Incubators and funding institutions in Lebanon, an infrastructure for successful social entrepreneurs -

Abstract

To date, social enterprise incubators and funding models in the Middle East remain in their infancy, though demand for their services is on the rise, given the significant role that they play in the life cycle of social enterprises. This chapter begins by defining the responsibilities of incubators and funding institutions and the ingredients that determine their success. An analysis of the experiences of select Lebanese social entrepreneurs and Lebanese incubators follows, highlighting nabad, Lebanon’s first social entrepreneurship incubator, as a prime example of the mutually beneficial relationship shared among them. Based on these findings, the chapter proceeds to synthesize the success factors for incubation in the social entrepreneurial space. In conclusion, recommendations are provided in pursuit of developing the yet nascent incubation and funding space in the Arab World, specifically in light of the extensive potential for growth of social entrepreneurship in this region.