September Newsletter: New Connections, New Leaders, Growing Impact

Published on October 7, 2026

LebNet Community Hub Launches

The LebNet Community Hub is officially live at lebnet.us, our new digital home, bringing LebNet members, communities, conversations, and opportunities together in one place.

Here's what you can do on the Hub:

Instant Peer Connections, a searchable global directory with smart keyword search
Centralized Member Updates, one feed for member news, announcements, and community updates
Hyper-Focused Communities, interest- or region-based groups
Active Topic Discussions, organized forums
Secure Private Messaging, direct messaging without sharing personal contact info

Early Feedback:“I’m loving the new LebNet Community Hub - it’s amazing!” - S.F., LebNet Early in Career

“The new platform is awesome! The Member Directory makes it easy to see where LebNet communities are located.” - E.F., LebNet Toronto

Activate your account and complete your profile today at lebnet.us; the more members who join in, the stronger our network becomes!

Activate your Account

Welcoming New Leaders to Boston
and Mid-Atlantic Teams

LebNet Boston

Talal Ali Ahmad - Founder & CEO, Predictive Healthcare

Developing MyHealthPal, an AI-powered postoperative wound-monitoring solution. His expertise spans AI, remote patient monitoring, and medical augmented reality, with a focus on improving healthcare delivery.

Anthony Moussa - Senior Product Manager, Virtual Care, Philips

A healthcare product and marketing professional with experience in customer-facing roles, B2B go-to-market strategy, business management, and clinical environments.

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LebNet Mid Atlantic

Joseph Khadij - Director, Pricing & Packaging, Planview

A strategy professional with more than 12 years of experience in enterprise software and consulting, specializing in pricing, analytics, operations, and data-driven decision-making.

Rosy Khalife Tyan - Co-founder & COO, Nexus Labs

An entrepreneur with experience in sales, marketing, growth, and partnerships. She founded Surprise Ride, featured on Shark Tank, and is passionate about mentoring minority entrepreneurs and innovation.

Vanessa Naddaf - Finance Manager, Amazon

Finance professional with more than nine years of experience in banking, international trade, and corporate finance, now focused on financial analytics, automation, AI, and North American market expansion.

Monthly Spotlight

Sami Abou Saab

"Our diaspora is one of Lebanon's greatest assets, in every tech hub. If we stay connected and open doors for the next generation, together we can achieve more than any one of us could alone."

Sami Abou Saab is Founder & CEO of Zigzag Ventures, where he backs idea-stage founders and builds early-stage startup ecosystems. A LebNet Professional Member since 2010, he led the launch of LebNet London, our first community outside North America. His career spans Microsoft/Skype, Speed Accelerator (acquired by Seedstars), and Techstars.

Read his Interview

In this spotlight, he shares:

Why he evaluates founders before their ideas, focusing on how quickly they learn and how they respond to rejection.
How 14 of Speed’s 42 startups participated in LebNet Ignite and went on to raise the most funding, supported by coaching and introductions from LebNet members.
How LebNet London launched on June 23, 2026, and why he views London as a gateway for connecting Lebanese tech talent across Europe.

Program News

LebNet Tech Fellows 2026: Celebrating Our Fourth Cohort

LebNet celebrated the graduation of its fourth Tech Fellows cohort at AUB, where 102 fellows earned certificates, including 33 with distinction. Six distinguished fellows presented innovative AI projects spanning wildfire prediction, medical imaging, Arabic-language processing, reasoning, and more.

Read the Full recap

The journey continues: on September 26, we welcomed a new group of 350 fellows to our Fall 2026 program on Quantum computing!

Event Recaps

Toronto | Networking & Social Event

LebNet Toronto brought the community together for a relaxed evening of drinks, conversation, and new connections.

Arizona | Community Get-Together

LebNet Arizona brought Lebanese professionals together to connect, exchange ideas, and build new relationships.

London | AI in Practice

LebNet London gathered for an engaging session with Elie Matta to explore practical AI applications and how emerging tools can be used in today’s professional environment.

Montreal | Breaking into your Career

LebNet Montreal brought professionals and students together for career insights, meaningful conversations, and a Speed Mentorship session with experienced leaders.

Bay Area | Impromptu Meetup

The LebNet Bay Area community gathered for an informal fall meetup, creating space to meet new people, reconnect with familiar faces, and enjoy casual conversation.

New York | End of Summer Picnic

LebNet in NY came together to close out the summer with a relaxed picnic and an opportunity to connect beyond the usual professional setting.

Upcoming Events

Join LebNet Boston and Rayan Seif of Harbor & Grow for insights on AI, long-term value, and high-conviction investing.

Join LebNet and Hala Hanna of MIT Solve to explore innovation’s role in addressing pressing global challenges.

Join Elio Gerges of the LA/OC community for a hands-on workshop exploring practical AI applications and their impact on business.

Join LebNet Atlanta for a Homecoming Event featuring an alumni panel, career insights, and networking.

Join LebNet Bay Area for an evening of speed mentorship featuring an exceptional group of accomplished leaders.

Join LebNet PNW for coffee, connections, and an engaging conversation with our local AI leader.

Join LebNet Michigan for career advice, job-market insights, and connections with experienced professionals.

Join LebNet Chicago and an expert panel to explore how AI and emerging technologies are transforming media, retail, and advertising.

LebNet Houston is getting ready to launch! Join us for an exclusive preview bringing together Lebanese professionals, leaders, and innovators, with a roundtable conversation on Houston’s technology and energy landscape.

Partner Spotlight

Join MENA Rising, Viaka’s flagship annual gathering, bringing together founders, investors, and leaders from the MENA startup and investment ecosystem for a day of conversations, connections, and insights on venture, AI, capital, and scaling across markets.

LebNet Community Discount: $20 off with code VIAKAPARTNER

LebNet Job Board

Opportunities From Our Community, for Our Community

Looking to hire? Post your company’s job and internship openings on the LebNet Job Board and connect with talented professionals across our community.

Looking for your next opportunity? Explore job and internship openings shared by the community and updated weekly.

Job Board