LEBNET
Non-profit network of technology professionals of Lebanese descent, started in Silicon Valley in 1999 and now with chapters in North America and London.
Industry: Diaspora technology professional network | Location: San Mateo, United States | Founded: 1999
About LEBNET
LebNet, which describes itself as a global Lebanese tech network, is a non-profit community of technology professionals of Lebanese descent. Its headquarters address is in San Mateo, California. The network connects members with one another and with Lebanon, and its site lists mentorship, a soft-landing programme, tech fellows, the Bireme Awards and LebNet Forward among its programmes.
LebNet was launched in 1999 in Silicon Valley, according to a 2013 Wamda article, which described it as a network of Lebanese-American technology professionals with more than 200 members. That article named George Akiki, then senior director of corporate affairs at Cisco Systems, as co-founder. In April 2013 LebNet and Wamda agreed a partnership under which members would mentor entrepreneurs in the Arab world through video content and online mentoring events.
In January 2017, LebNet board member Edgar Masri, former president and chief executive of 3Com, gave a keynote at the third Global Lebanese Entrepreneurs and Investors Summit in Beirut. In May 2020 LebNet and Endeavor Lebanon signed a memorandum making LebNet the mentoring partner for Endeavor entrepreneurs. After the Beirut blast, LebNet, SEAL and Life Lebanon set up the Beirut Emergency Fund 2020, which Asharq Al-Awsat reported in August 2020 as aiming to channel money to reputable organisations in Lebanon.
On 23 June 2026 LebNet launched LebNet London at Amazon's London offices. It was described as the first LebNet chapter outside North America, with Sami Abou Saab heading its steering committee and a founding team of eight. LebNet is one of seven advisory board members of the Lebanese Angel Investor Network, launched in May 2026.
On 1 September 2026, LebNet announced that its board had unanimously appointed Jeanine Akiki as president, effective 13 August 2026. She remains executive director. Georges Akiki, a co-founder who served the organisation for 27 years and most recently as president, stays involved in an advisory role. LebNet said that under their leadership it grew from 10 to 16 cities and its community grew by 200 percent.
Leadership
- Jeanine Akiki, President and Executive Director
- Sami Abou Saab, Head of the LebNet London Steering Committee
- Edgar Masri, Board member