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March 4, 2024

Startup provides smart solutions to Lebanon's electricity crisis

Ejet Elkahraba is a startup addressing Lebanon's chronic electricity crisis through a user-friendly app, providing real-time updates on power availability and outages. Founded by Abdulkader Khateeb, the company empowers its users with insights and predictions for optimising energy consumption. This business is growing in the midst of Lebanon’s nationwide challenge, providing solutions and creating vital job opportunities.

In 2024, most of us take electricity for granted. With a click or a touch, we can turn on a light, connect to the internet, cook, bathe, and warm our homes. In Lebanon, however, the reality is not so simple. The recent Human Rights Watch report, Cut Off from Life Itself: Lebanon’s Failure on the Right to Electricity, emphasises the essential role electricity plays in daily life and participation in modern society. Lebanese citizens have been deprived of the right to consistent electricity for decades, with a current average of one to three hours of government-provided electricity per day.

However, there is no clear timeline for when electricity will be turned on, making it difficult for people to plan even the simplest of tasks and reliant on expensive and polluting private generators. “The electricity crisis severely restricts people’s access to basic rights and drives them deeper into poverty,” says Abdulkader Khateeb, Founder of Ejet Elkahraba

Abdulkader’s startup is a user-friendly application designed to keep Lebanese residents informed about electricity availability and outages in their areas. With real-time notifications, users can stay updated on the power status and make informed decisions regarding their electricity consumption. “The app goes beyond notifications and incorporates smart sensors to help users optimise their energy usage and reduce wastage,” explained Abdulkader. The application provides valuable insights and suggestions for efficient electricity consumption. Additionally, it includes a predictive feature that forecasts electricity availability, allowing users to plan their activities accordingly and avoid inconvenience. 

Participating in the Startup Roadshow 4 by Jusoor, SPARK’s partner on the Skills Education and Training Programme (STEP), Abdulkader gained access to knowledge, connections, and mentorship in diverse areas such as product development, financial forecasting, digital marketing, legal registration, and investor presentation. 

Financed by the Islamic Development Bank and the Abdul Aziz al Ghurair Refugee Education Fund, the Startup Roadshow brought together over 260 aspiring entrepreneurs from Syria, Jordan, Palestine and Lebanon to participate in hackathons, incubation and specialised training and mentoring to enhance their startups. Over 670 hours of comprehensive training, culminating in a business pitch event where judges awarded cash prizes totaling $15,000 to the top three teams. Among them, the Ejet Elkahraba team secured third place, receiving $3,000 in seed funding to further their entrepreneurial endeavours.

©SPARK2024
©SPARK2024
©SPARK2024
©SPARK2024
©SPARK2024

Since the Startup Roadshow, Ejet Elkahraba has experienced growth and created three new job opportunities. They have successfully tested their prototype with 1,500 users, who expressed satisfaction with the service. 

Entrepreneurial young minds in Lebanon are tackling the country’s challenges head on with innovative business ideas, leading to a flourishing startup scene despite the many hardships the country faces.