Under the Patronage of H.E. Saad Hariri, President of the Council of Minister of Lebanon, Beirut will host the largest and most significant gathering of web industry leaders ever to take place in the Arab world.  40 top-notch speakers, 11 supporting partners, 18 media partners, 35 startups, 50 ideas, 25 ambassadors, and over 300 decision makers, investors, and entrepreneurs from across the MENA, Europe, and Silicon Valley, will gather on March 25 & 26 at the Habtoor Grand Hotel to network and discuss emerging opportunities in Arab web business.

ArabNet’s unique conference format integrates the audience in candid talks between global giants (including Google, Facebook, Yahoo, Nokia, Intel, Cisco) and regional powerhouses (including Aramex, Jabbar Group, Bayt, anf Al Jazeera).  With 8 comprehensive panels, each featuring 6 experts from the Arab World, Europe, and Silicon Valley, participants will discover cutting-edge trends in Social Media, Content, Online Advertising, Mobile, Gaming, E-commerce, Startup Financing, and the Ecosystem as a whole.  Speakers include Samih Toukan, founder of Maktoob.com, acquired by Yahoo for over $150M; Russell Buckley, VP of Global Alliances at AdMob and Global Chairman of the Mobile Marketing Association; Ghassan Haddad, Director of Internationalization at Facebook; Wael Ghonim, Marketing and Product Manager, MENA, Google; and Talal Abu-Ghazaleh, Chair of UN Global Alliance for ICT and Development.

ArabNet is dedicated to nurturing the Arab Internet ecosystem.  Day one, March 25^th 2010, will feature two exclusive competitions highlighting web entrepreneurship in the Arab World: 1) the Startup Demo, sponsored by Aramex, showcasing 10 of the region’s most promising Internet startups and 2) the Ideathon, sponsored by Google, starring 10 of the region’s most innovative web business ideas.  Over 50 ideas & 35 startups have been submitted for consideration from across the region.  ArabNet will connect these entrepreneurs with investors, mentors, and media, matching talent with opportunity!

ArabNet builds a community of enthusiasts, entrepreneurs, experts, businessmen and angel investors that spans all of Lebanon, Jordan, Syria, Egypt, Palestine, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia.  In collaboration with its supporting partners and media partners, ArabNet organized groundbreaking pre-conference workshops in 7 MENA countries to foster a sense of ‘ArabNet identity’, and instill continuity and longevity in the ‘ArabNet experience’.  Such was the success of these workshops that they have been featured in the news across the globe.  This community was further extended and strengthened by ArabNet’s pioneering use of social media to engage the world, from the very start, in dialogue about the conference vision, program, and speakers.  Over 1,000 Twitter and Facebook users take part in this dialogue daily!

ArabNet 2010 is taking place in collaboration with the Central Bank of Lebanon, the Telecom Regulatory Association of Lebanon, and the Union of Arab ICT Associations. ArabNet is proud to have Aramex, Bank Audi, Google, National Net Ventures, Yahoo, Cisco, Middle East Venture Partners, and LINKdotNET as key sponsors.

Register Now to take part in this unparalleled and exceptional event!

Visit http://www.ArabNet.me for the Full Program & List of Speakers

As a co-founder of Nakhweh.com I have been selected by the U.S Department of State as the only Jordanian to attend the 3 weeks International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) under the title “Volunteerism: United we Serve”. The program includes a lot of interesting and informative activities on volunteerism and civil engagement in the United States.

I’m looking forward to take such an opportunity to get more exposure for Nakhweh.com in addition of developing my skills for volunteerism culture that can be reflected positively on Jordan and the Arab World.

The program will start on the 12th of April and I will be tweeting, blogging and sending updates to all of you on Nakhweh’s official social media channels.

About the IVLP:

The International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) is the U.S. Department of State’s premier professional exchange program.  Launched in 1940, the IVLP is a professional exchange program that seeks to build mutual understanding between the U.S. and other nations through carefully designed short-term visits to the U.S. for current and emerging foreign leaders.  These visits reflect the International Visitors’ professional interests and support the foreign policy goals of the United States.

ArabNet Pre-conference Workshop

Couple of hours ago we were at Al-Hasan Science City  (the campus that hosts QRCE) interacting and working together to explain the idea behind the first international conference for the Arab web industry; ArabNet 2010.

The workshop started with an introduction about the conference by Mohamad Khawaja (QRCE) and Ayman Azzeh (YEA), the introduction also included some stories on entrepreneurship in the Arab world. We were 9 in the hall when it started, then people started to join until we reached 14 people who introduced themselves in front of everyone.

Based on the agenda Khawaja and Azzeh started to explain the idea of the “Ideathon” giving an example for the template of a business case, and to make more useful, one of the attendees presented the business case he submitted to the “Ideation” already and discussed the idea with the audience. Also a good question came from one of the attendees asking about the benefits of submitting an idea, Khawaja answered that the people who will be there in Beirut during the conference time are a mix of entrepreneurs, investors, professionals, venture capitalists… etc; that obviously helps in taking any idea that will be presented to another level with the input from all people there. I also added to Khawaja’s answer the cash prize that the best 3 ideas will get (2500$, 1500$ and 1000$).

I’ve been invited to speak about Ideation Labs involvement to come back with ideas from the conference then I explained the “Startup Demo” part of the agenda and the event. We also announced the new deadline for applications and early registration.

After 6 months of launching the pre-beta version of nakhweh.com and under the patronage of Her Excellency Hala Bseiso Lattouf – Minister of Social Development; an outstanding social event sponsored by the Arab Bank will be held on the 27th of February as the official launch of the website.

The agenda of the event includes an interesting video (filmed by Aramram) and a lot segments that show the importance of volunteerism and social engagement. All segments are done in partnership with:

• 7iber.com by Mariam Abu Adas
• “Together” program by the Arab Bank
• Ta3leeleh by Rawan Zeine
• Madrasati by Dana Dajani
• Hamzet Wasel by Raghda Butros
• Jordan River Foundation by Valentina Qussisiya
• Raneen by Rawan Barakat
• Specific Union for Farmer Women in Jordan by Zeinab Al-Momany
• Queen Rania Center for Entrepreneurship by Mohammad Khawaja
• Zikra Initiative by Rabee’ Zureikat

There will also be a lot of surprises and announcements during the event about new services Nakhweh.com will be providing very soon.

Live streaming for the event will be available using the internet connection provided by Mada (link to be provided very soon).

#NakhwehEvent Sponsors

It has been seven months now since I co-founded my first venture Ideation Box on June 2009, before going through the launch of Nakhweh.com, passing by the Ideation Labs and finally the process of establishing a new Multimedia and Animation House, Sketchat Creations! Well, that sounds too much for a 25 years guy with only 2 years of experience, but it doesn’t sound too much for me at all as I always act before I plan (which doesn’t sound good for a lot of people).

For the last couple of months, I can say that each minute I spent working on my ventures, projects and initiatives is a priceless experience. Definitely I had to deal with my partner, Hadi Nasereddin, who is a 10 years friend before being a partner, I had to deal with my clients, I had to deal with Nakhweh’s NGOs, I had to deal with the Ideators of Ideation Labs, I had to do Sales, Marketing, PR in addition to my main role as a Web Developer at Ideation Box.

Definitely I can’t consider that experience an ideal one but at least I’m very proud of our achievements in all of what we’ve done. Why it wasn’t ideal? well, I’m giving you some points that you can learn from my experience:

Know how to deal with your partners and co-workers:

I should admit that I failed in dealing with my partner. I’m a kind of person who thinks work is everything, I don’t care about what people call “social life” and I have no problem in working for 24 hours without sleeping and that’s what I expected from my partner, recently I figured out that not all people are the same and he doesn’t have to be like me.

One more thing about dealing with partners and co-workers; do you have a problem? do they have a problem? as a startup those problems should be fixed on the spot before they ruin the whole thing!

Prioritize:

You should always set your priorities, you have work coming? then deal with it based on the “First come first serve” model. I love to do everything together which is bad but I can’t get rid of that habit. Unless you have an exception, finish what you have then let new things in.

Don’t over promise, especially with deadlines:

Do you think you’re superman? I do! The usual conversation between me an my clients

Client: how much time does it need to be done?

Kamel: That’s so simple… tomorrow it will be done! and it’s never done…

It’s not a shame to give a far deadline as I thought, at least it keeps me in the safe side.

Manage your time:

Time  management is the key factor of getting things rolling and having work done.

Highly anticipated and finally here is the first international conference for the Arab internet industry: IBAG, International Business Alliance Group, presents ArabNet 2010: Trends and Opportunities in Arab Web Business. The conference will be held in Beirut on March 25-26, 2010 with the support of Endeavor Jordan, the Queen Rania Center for Entrepreneurship, the Syrian Young Entrepreneurs Association and YallaStartup!.

ArabNet

ArabNet is bringing together the internet community to network and help launch the hottest startups from across the region – that means you! Top investors, internet executives and leaders from Google, Yahoo!, Facebook, AdMob and Intel will adress subjects that are critical to the Arab Web Industry including: e-commerce, gaming, mobile, content, online advertising, social networking, new media, and start-up fundraising.

Key to the conference are pitch sessions: Ideathon & Startup Demo.  This is the place to match talent with opportunity.

The Ideathon is looking for 10 select entrepreneurs to introduce their fresh startup ideas to eager investors in a rapid-fire pitch session. Similarly, the Demo will select startups with innovative products to pitch and exhibit their companies for the duration of the conference.

We are currently accepting applications from entrepreneurs and startups from all over the region with strong ideas and products.

Visit ArabNet.me to learn more and apply.

The Jordanian and Arab girls reached a very shameless limit in ignoring all traditions and islamic values by sharing their bra colors on Facebook in front of all their friends (including men)! I was wondering all the time why those colors are posted on the girls’ status on Facebook until I found something on Google that explained it.

Example 1

Example 2

Putting the values and the traditions aside, the madness of those girls made them believe that this is a breast cancer awareness campaign as it’s promoted globally. I can’t see anything in such a campaign more than the abnormal stupidness and the ultimate violation of our community and honour (as usual)!

I really can’t describe how much it’s repulsive for me and I really couldn’t imagine that we would reach this point of audacity. Let’s wait for a couple of days or weeks, maybe the next campaign will convince our STUPID girls that having your picture nude on Facebook will help in fighting HIV!!!

Hello people, I have an update for you; couple of days ago we announced the Ideation Labs with four ideators. Today we are welcoming Mohamad Khawaja, the Executive Director of the Queen Rania Center for Entrepreneurship (QRCE), as a new Ideator joining our team.

Stay tuned for what’s coming next

Couple of months ago, I posted on this blog a short overview about a T.V show on OTV Lebanon that’s called LOL, since that time until now and I’m getting a huge number of hits from the search engines.

Google Analytics showed within the first 33 results the following keywords that generate the traffic for Kermit the Blog:

From Google Analytics

Trying to google the first keyword above I got the following results and they explain everything:

Searching for "otv lebanon" on Google

The year of 2009 held a lot of surprises for me, I can also consider it an extraordinary year of action that made a huge difference in the whole track of my life. Working with Boundless the sister web development company of Akhtaboot and Jawaker, moving to work on the co-finding of my startup venture Ideation Box, popping Nakhweh.com and finally kicking off Ideation Box Labs a couple of days ago. All of that moves I have done were absolutely guided or influenced by my family and friends.

In the last day of 2009 and the last post of the year I would like to thank those who supported and helped me to achieve this point of success:

• My Father and The God Father of Ideation Box, Marwan Al-Asmar; thank you.
• Intisar Samara, thank you for being my mother and for your prayers that helped me to make it for you.
• Khaled, Sarah, Noor and little Mahmoud I love you.
• Hadi Nasereddin, I wouldn’t be able to make it without a great partner like you.
• Firas Steitiyeh; thanks for helping in making my dream of the original Ideation Box comes true with the Ideation Box Labs.
• Amer Al-Saleh; what a creative mind and a good sales man.
• Mohamad Haj Hasan; 2 years of great experience under your mentorship were the key factors. Thank you.
• Mohamad Khawaja; your endless support for us is priceless.
• Fouad Mardini; I will be benefiting from your technical support forever.
• Mais Gousous; you always make me feel that I’m doing the best thing ever.
• Reem Khouri; your ideas tell me how Ideation is done.
• Ayah Nasan; great efforts and more to come.
• Zina Bata; thanks for the mature advices.
• Aya Jazy; Nakhweh loves you, believe me.

The influence of the these Arab entrepreneurs played a big role as well:

• Her Majesty Queen Rania Al-Abdullah.
• Rabee’ Zureikat of Zikra Initiative.
• Rawan Zeine of Ta3leeleh.
• Samar Dudin of Ruwwad.
• Maher Kaddoura of Al-Jude for Scientific Care Programs.
• Fadi Ghandour of Aramex.
• Laith Zraikat of Jeeran.
• Habib Haddad of Yamli.

Finally, I want to wish you all a Happy New Year of 2010 that brings you happiness, joy and real success