BIAT

What BIAT does

BIAT (Business Incubation Association in Tripoli) is a Lebanese not-for-profit business incubation and support organization established in 2006 with EU assistance, headquartered at the Chamber of Commerce of Tripoli and North Lebanon (CCIAT) in Tripoli. It delivers counseling, coaching, mentoring, training, networking, market access, and access-to-finance facilitation to entrepreneurs, early-stage startups, and micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in North Lebanon, with additional coverage in Akkar Governorate (Shafat Cluster) and through its online YARD platform. Targeted beneficiary segments include startups, youth entrepreneurs (16-35), women-led businesses and cooperatives, agro-food producers, and SMEs across ICT, health, construction, tourism, and creative industries. Named beneficiaries include CodenDot, MezzMix, Recyco, and Jar Thouraya.

The organization's core offerings are Business Support Services, physical Hosting Services (freelancer desks, executive offices, training and conference rooms), structured Training Programs (digital marketing, strategic marketing, solar energy), and the YARD online incubator platform launched in 2020. YARD runs a structured 4-stage graduation process providing digital tools for branding, website and app building, social media setup, business diagnosis, CRM, accounting, HR, and project management, alongside access to finance and markets workshops. BIAT also operates an "E-Yard" online initiative as a digital extension of its incubation services.

BIAT's business model is grant-funded: it does not charge beneficiaries for services and instead secures project-based funding from international development donors and agencies including the European Union, KfW Development Bank, French Development Agency (AFD), GIZ, UNDP, USAID (via the Lebanon Enterprise Development project), and EBRD. Implementation partners such as SPARK, the Rene Moawad Foundation, Berytech, and local trade associations co-deliver programs. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, combining physical incubation, online channels, training workshops, pitching competitions, and partner referrals. Reported cumulative outcomes since inception include 8,000+ entrepreneurs supported, 400+ businesses incubated, 80+ projects executed, $14M+ access to finance facilitated, $6M+ in grants distributed, 1,500+ jobs created, and 10,000+ community outreach touchpoints.

Name

BIAT

Legal name

Business Incubation Association in Tripoli

Website

https://biatcenter.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

BIAT is a Lebanese not-for-profit business incubation organization established in 2006 that delivers coaching, training, and access-to-finance services to startups, MSMEs, women-led businesses, and youth entrepreneurs in North Lebanon via physical facilities and its online YARD platform, funded by international development grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Tripoli

HQ country

Lebanon

HQ region

Middle East

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding: BIAT operates as a not-for-profit organization funded primarily through international development grants and donor funding. The organization was established in 2006 with EU assistance and continues to receive funding from EU, KfW, AFD, GIZ, USAID, and UNDP for various development programs supporting entrepreneurship and MSME growth in North Lebanon.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

BIAT is a not-for-profit business incubation organization providing comprehensive business development services to entrepreneurs and MSMEs in North Lebanon. Core offerings include business coaching and mentoring, training programs, access to finance facilitation, grant distribution, networking, market access support, physical co-working and office hosting, and the YARD online business incubator platform with digital tools and structured 4-stage incubation.

Product overview

BIAT operates as a not-for-profit business incubation and development organization established in 2006, offering a portfolio of interconnected services for entrepreneurs and MSMEs in North Lebanon. The core offerings include Business Support Services (coaching, finance access, counseling, markets access, networking, training) and Hosting Services (freelancer desks, executive offices with infrastructure). The flagship digital platform is Yard (biatyard.com), an online business incubator featuring a structured 4-stage graduation process for startups, alongside E-Yard as a complementary online initiative. Training Programs provide skills development in areas like solar energy, digital marketing, and business management. Programs encompass various sector-specific initiatives including E-commerce, MSME productivity, green economy, women's empowerment, and agriculture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• YARD: An online business incubator launched in 2020, dedicated to promising startups and existing businesses with growth potential in Lebanon. Provides services including online training, branding assistance, online presence support, business idea diagnosis, coaching, and access to finance workshops.

Products and services

• Business Support Services Comprehensive business support services including coaching, mentoring, counseling, access to finance facilitation, market access support, and networking for entrepreneurs and MSMEs in North Lebanon.
• YARD Online Business Incubator Online business incubator platform providing a structured 4-stage graduation process with Yard Academy, branding assistance, website/app building, social media setup, business idea diagnosis, coaching, CRM, accounting, HR systems, project management, and access to finance and markets workshops for entrepreneurs.
• Hosting Services Flexible accommodation offerings including freelancer desks and executive offices with 24-hour access, security, power supply, broadband/fiber optic internet, conference rooms, and training facilities for businesses at any development stage.
• Training Programs Structured business training programs for startups and entrepreneurs covering topics such as solar energy, digital marketing, strategic marketing, and digital tools for growth.
• E-Yard Online Initiative Online business incubator initiative functioning as a digital extension of BIAT's incubation services, dedicated to promising startups and existing businesses with growth potential in Lebanon, providing online training, branding assistance, online presence support, business idea diagnosis, coaching, and access to finance workshops.

Quantifiable outcome

• 8,000+ entrepreneurs supported since 2006
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Tripoli and North Lebanon (CCIAT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCCIAT hosts BIAT headquarters at its Glass Building location. The organizations collaborate on business support programs, events, and initiatives to develop the North Lebanon economy.
• SPARKmajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSPARK implements EU-funded projects in partnership with BIAT, including the Green Forward project and assessment programs for MSMEs in North Lebanon.
• United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerUNDP partners with BIAT on multiple projects including Shafat Cluster economic development, WEP women's resilience program, and COVID-19 recovery initiatives.
• European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEBRD partners with BIAT on the Advice for Small Businesses programme, providing training on strategic marketing and digital tools for SME growth.
• Rene Moawad Foundation (RMF)minorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerRMF collaborates with BIAT on MSME assessment and coaching programs in North Lebanon.
• Zgharta Zawiyeh Traders AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU signed for collaboration on supporting local business community through joint initiatives and capacity-building programs including digital marketing training.
• Batroun Traders AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMoU signed for collaboration to support and develop the local business community through joint initiatives and capacity-building programs.
• Berytech FoundationminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBerytech is LED project's partner for Beirut/Mount Lebanon, Bekaa, and South Lebanon, while BIAT covers North Lebanon.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves4 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• UK Lebanon Tech Hub: UK government-backed initiative supporting Lebanon's tech entrepreneurship ecosystem through programs connecting Lebanese startups to UK markets, investors, and mentors. Comparable ecosystem development mandate and donor-funded program model.

Direct peers

• Beirut Digital District: Lebanese non-profit tech hub and innovation district in Beirut, providing co-working, incubation, and acceleration programs for Lebanese tech startups. Comparable tech-focused incubation model and donor-funded non-profit structure, though based in Beirut.
• AltCity: Lebanese startup accelerator and coworking space founded in Beirut, supporting early-stage Lebanese startups. Comparable target audience of entrepreneurs and similar incubation/acceleration service offering, though focused on Beirut rather than North Lebanon.
• Bader Young Entrepreneurs Program: Lebanese non-profit program supporting young entrepreneurs through training, mentorship, and funding access. Directly comparable to BIAT in serving Lebanese MSMEs and startups with international donor support and similar non-profit/incubation model.
• Berytech Foundation: Lebanese non-profit business incubator and accelerator founded in 2001, supporting Lebanese startups and SMEs. Explicitly mentioned in BIAT data as a co-partner under the USAID LED project, with both organizations covering different Lebanese regions (Berytech: Beirut/Mount Lebanon/Bekaa/South; BIAT: North Lebanon).
• Endeavor Lebanon: Local chapter of global high-impact entrepreneurship support organization, providing mentorship, networks, and growth support to Lebanese entrepreneurs. Comparable target market (Lebanese SMEs/startups) and similar mentorship-led service model.

Broad incumbents

• Oasis500: Jordan-based early-stage investor and startup accelerator supporting MENA-region entrepreneurs with seed funding and acceleration programs. Comparable target market (MENA startups/MSMEs) and similar service model combining incubation, training, and access to finance.
• Flat6Labs: MENA-region early-stage venture capital firm and seed accelerator with operations across Tunisia, Egypt, Morocco, Lebanon, and other MENA markets. Directly comparable business incubation model and target segment, but operates as a for-profit equity investor rather than a non-profit.

Others

• ESCWA Technology for Development Division: UN Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia's technology and innovation arm supporting entrepreneurship, MSME development, and digital economy initiatives across the Arab region. Comparable ecosystem-building mandate at regional level and shared UN-system donor relationships with BIAT.
• GIZ Lebanon Programs: German development agency GIZ runs private sector development and MSME support programs in Lebanon, including the UDP_NL program that BIAT implements. Comparable program areas (MSME development, skills training) and shared donor perspective, though GIZ is a funder/implementer rather than a beneficiary-servicing organization.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/biat.center
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/biat-business-incubation-association-in-tripoli

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about BIAT