B&Y Venture Partners has opened commitments for the Lebanese Angel Investor Network, a curated investment platform built with the support of Lebanon's new Ministry of Technology and Artificial Intelligence. The launch took place earlier this week and was attended by Minister Kamal Shehadi, who used the occasion to outline MITAI's plan to position Lebanon as a "digital republic."
The network, known as LAIN, has reportedly secured commitments above its initial target shortly after launch. B&Y has not disclosed the names of investors or the total raised. A separate report by Businessnews.com.lb puts the angel fund at five million dollars, with a focus on AI, fintech, SaaS, and high-tech manufacturing startups.
Inside the First Cohort
LAIN introduced its opening set of investment opportunities through Vessel, an online platform that packages and presents deals to angel members. The first cohort features four Lebanese founders sourced from B&Y's pipeline and the wider diaspora network. The deals are open for member commitments through the LAIN portal.
B&Y has said the cohort is the start of a recurring pipeline rather than a one-time batch, with new founders introduced as the network grows.
The MITAI Connection
LAIN launches in coordination with MITAI, the Ministry of Technology and Artificial Intelligence created under the new Lebanese government. In his remarks, Minister Kamal Shehadi described the network as part of MITAI's "digital republic" vision aimed at supporting innovation-driven economic growth.
The platform arrives at a moment when Lebanon has been without a large structured channel for early-stage capital since the 2019 financial crisis froze Banque du Liban's Circular 331 program. LAIN does not replace 331, but it is the first formal angel coordination mechanism to come online under the new policy framework.
Who is Behind the Network
B&Y Venture Partners, based at Beirut Digital District, manages a global portfolio of more than 90 companies and has remained one of the few consistently active Lebanese VCs through the post-2019 period. The network has been built in coordination with Endeavor Lebanon, LEBNET, Beirut Digital District, and IM Fndng, four organizations with reach into the local market and the wider diaspora.
LAIN's digital portal handles member onboarding and commitment tracking. B&Y has said the next cohort of startups will be unveiled in the coming weeks, with a focus on Lebanese and diaspora-founded ventures.
