Hanan Aref: Empowering Local Businesses with AI

At just 22 years old, Hanan Aref, from Beirut and living in Bekaa, is redefining innovation through technology and purpose. A dual-degree holder in Computer and Communication Engineering and Biology from the Lebanese University, Hanan saw a clear gap in her community, local businesses struggling to find the right marketing tools to reach their audiences.

That’s where her idea for Creovate was born, an AI-powered marketing and branding platform designed to help startups and small businesses thrive. “Our goal is to bring together all AI tools in one place,” she explains. “From image and content generation to direct uploads on social media, Creovate helps businesses grow faster and communicate better.”

Through the Generation of Innovation Leaders (GIL) programme, supported by UNICEF, Hanan received the mentorship and guidance she needed to transform her concept into a real product. “What encouraged me to join was the opportunity to develop my skills, build networks, and gain access to expert coaching,” she says. “The most important part of the GIL programme was the mentoring; it helped me focus on during the initial steps and where I needed to improve.”

Today, Creovate is in the final stages of product development, with its prototype complete and ready to launch. The journey hasn’t been easy, but for Hanan, every challenge was a lesson in resilience. “We started from scratch and faced many difficulties,” she says. “But we learned to stay strong and never give up, because what we’re building can make a real impact in our community.”

This initiative was implemented with funding from the Government of the Netherlands and the UK National Committee through the PETEX project.