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Beirut’s tech accelerator, Speed@BDD, has just announced the 7 startups selected for its first round of acceleration.

Speed@BDD selected the startups based on strict criteria, starting with the international appeal of their product or service, as well as the competence of their team.

The 3-month program will run until end-December 2015. Each startup will receive $30,000 in cash, as well as mentorship, training in higher business skills, and support in accessing markets and potential partners. In return, Speed@BDD will get a 10% equity stake in each startup.

“We are coaching each startup on its business and technology needs to deliver the most value within the 3-month acceleration,” said Sami Abou Saab, CEO at Speed@BDD.

The acceleration cycle will end with a Demo Day during which the startups pitch their products to potential investors. The top 2 startups of the batch will be sent to Silicon Valley for a follow-on immersion.

And now, meet the startups:

• 99 Check:

Developed by Karim Mneimneh and Karim Azar, the 99 Check app allows teens to check in with their parents by communicating their location and selfies via mobile.

• Blitz

Developed by Mazen Al-Wafai, Blitz is a social media arena for gamers and sports enthusiasts to design challenges and compete against each other. The platform’s users create the cash prizes for the winners themselves via crowdfunding

• Modeo Systems:

Modeo Systems, founded by Emile Arayes, was among the 5 finalists of the Bader Startup Challenge in August 2015. The Modeo app allows users to design their own customized furniture using modular components, and visualize it in their home via augmented reality. Customers can then order the parts and assemble their furniture themselves.

• Next Automated Robots (NAR):

Founded by Nicolas Zaatar and Charlie Khoury, NAR is behind the “Quadrofighter” firefighting drone. This app-supported drone is designed to improve responses to wildfires. The invention won first place in Lebanon’s national Microsoft Imagine Cup in April 2015.

• Rafiqi

Rawad Fakhri, Wael Hourani, and Ahmad Wehbe designed Rafiqi as a way to bring online socializing into the real world. Users can find people with similar interests online and arrange to gather for a hike, football game, or any other activity offline.

• Rational Pixels

Developed by Rita Sadek, Rational Pixels is a patent-pending automated digital product placement solution that streamlines and facilitates the process, making it accessible even to people without advanced skills.

• Tulos

Developed by Lujain Nabaa, Mohamad Nabaa, Ralph Khairallah, and Basma Jilani, the Tulos carpooling app for university students was the recipient of this year’s Samir and Claude Abillama Eco-Entrepreneurship Award (with a value of $20,000). The app aims to reduce the number of cars on the road by giving users incentives to share rides via a reward-points system.

See related: Applications Open for Speed@BDD Beirut's New Accelerator