Startup Oman, the sole online platform created by entrepreneurs for entrepreneurs in the Sultanate, hosted a Startup Grind to encourage local youth take the initiative and to start a business.
Louis Lebbos, a serial entrepreneur, and the founding member of AstroLabs, the region’s first co-working space and learning hub for high-tech digital companies, was a special guest at the event. In addition to that, AstroLabs has also been working hard towards the establishment of a strong technology ecosystem in the MENA region. Before joining AstroLabs, Lebbos had been the driving force behind Namshi, the online fashion shop which turned into the biggest e-shop of its kind in MENA.
Currently, Louis Lebbos is focused on transferring his expertise to young and ambitious people, and helping them reach their full potential. Besides providing them with a common space to work, to network with fellows, and to exchange thoughts, Lebbos also organizes entrepreneurial workshops. The participants take part in various courses and coaching sessions to increase their knowledge about entrepreneurship.
More than 80 local entrepreneurs attended the event to hear Lebbos’s stories and advice. While talking to the audience, he turned back to his time at Namshi. He admitted that the most challenging part was to find the right people to join the team. There was a period where he constantly hired the wrong team members. The biggest lessons he learned back then was never to rush the hiring process.
Lebbos described the startup selection process as ”highly-selective” as becoming part of the community was very important to him. He also added that diversity of the startups present in the co-working space was vital too.
Ali Daud, the co-founder of Startup Oman, commented that having Louis Lebbos as a guest speaker would inspire many young people to follow his steps.
Startup Grind is a global entrepreneurial community, comprised of 400,000 entrepreneurs among 200 cities worldwide. Founded by the Silicon Valley’s Derek Anderson, Startup Grind aims to spread the idea of entrepreneurship across the world.