Samer Karam

Samer Karam is a prominent Lebanese entrepreneur, investor, author, and activist, known for his significant contributions to the startup ecosystem in Lebanon and the broader MENA region. He is the Founder & CEO of Hero Group, an organization focused on fostering innovation and entrepreneurship.

Early Career and Activism

Karam began his career by creating Blogging Beirut, a citizens' photojournalism website, during the 2006 Lebanon War, which gained considerable attention. In 2007, he founded Wunbox, a tech company inspired by Google Wave. His activism includes lobbying for improved internet connectivity in Lebanon through his campaign "Flip the Switch" and maintaining a real-time online register of missing persons during the 2011 Egyptian revolution.1

Entrepreneurial Ventures

In 2010, Karam established Seeqnce, Lebanon's first startup accelerator, which provided essential support to early-stage startups. Under his leadership, Seeqnce helped startups raise over $10 million in funding. He later transformed Seeqnce into Alice, one of the first online accelerators, aimed at connecting startups with global investors and mentors.1

Additionally, Karam has been involved in various initiatives to enhance the Lebanese startup ecosystem, including founding Startup Megaphone and organizing the Accelerate conference, which became one of the largest tech conferences globally.1

Recognition

Karam is recognized as a leading figure in technology and entrepreneurship within the MENA region. Tech journalist Monty Munford referred to him as "probably the most influential tech person across the Middle East North Africa (MENA) region," highlighting his impact on promoting Lebanon's tech scene internationally.1