PROFESSIONALS FROM DIGITAL CREATIVE SECTORS CONVENE IN BEIRUT THIS MARCH

Beirut, February 17, 2015: ArabNet Beirut, Lebanon’s three-day festival of digital creativity, e-business, development, and entrepreneurship, is back for its 6th edition. More than 80 elite speakers will convene in Beirut on March 17-19 to share international and regional perspectives on e-commerce, digital media, disruptive technology in hardware, and innovation with more than 700 attendees. ArabNet Beirut will tackle the growing role of banks in the entrepreneur ecosystem as led by Banque Du Liban's Circular 331. Other hot topics include what it takes to develop great video content for the web, online customer service, fashion, and entertainment.

Among the enriching activities, ArabNet Beirut 2015 promises to shed light on some of the hottest topics in the digital sector in the region. Check out some of the must-attend sessions:

Anatomy of an Acquisition

Lebanon has seen a number of recent acquisitions in the online space, including Shahiya's purchase by Cookpad and Webedia taking a majority stake in Diwanee. ArabNet Beirut 2015 will explore how acquisitions are brokered from initial outreach, to negotiating the terms, to closing the deal - and what happens afterwards. Walid Hana (Managing Partner – MEVP) and Herve Cuvilliez (Co-founder/MD of Diwanee) will be highlighting how such acquisitions progress.

Online Video Production

Historically driven by revenues from the production of TV commercials, video production now has tremendous opportunities online: from creating their own shows to developing shows for the brands they work with. With $1.35 billion in digital ad spending and $700 million in online advertising in the MENA region, ArabNet Beirut 2015 will explore the new opportunities for production houses as online video production continues to grow. Ahmad Abbas (COO of Qsoft) and Rolly Dib (General Manager and Executive Producer of OliveTree Production) will be sharing their insights on this ever growing market.

Technology in Banking

Banks in MENA have been aggressively introducing smart solutions and digital channels to support the needs of their tech-savvy customers. ArabNet Beirut 2015 will look at online banking, smart branches, mobile apps, payment solutions and new platforms that are being adopted nationally and regionally.

Artists and Celebrities as Online Brands

Independent (indie) artists have been leveraging digital platforms to raise funds for their music and to stay closely connected with fans. On the other hand, TV Celebrities have been using digital platforms to extend their reach beyond the silver screen. ArabNet Beirut 2015 addresses the variables in online personal management, as well as the obstacles and opportunities inherent to it. Jadal, the Jordanian indie rock band will be sharing how they leverage online marketing to promote their talent.

Other than the exciting topics, the ArabNet Design+Code Day is back, with focused workshops to help designers and developers build better web and mobile products. TBWA, M&C Saatchi, Ogilvy, Cre8mania will conduct workshops on subjects like developing animated websites; building smart devices; understanding user interface elements; and mobile design.

The conference will also include ArabNet’s signature competitions for entrepreneurs, the Ideathon and the Startup Demo, as well as the Creative Combat, which aims to highlight emerging talent in e-marketing. A new addition this year will be Innovation Avenue¸ which is an initiative by ArabNet to help hardware developers and designers in the MENA region showcase their product and connect with potential partners, developers, media, and investors. Find out more about Arabnet Beirut 2015 by visiting www.arabnet.me