Lamia Hanafi: Bridging Continents Through Innovation Diplomacy

In this spotlight, we profile Lamia Hanafi, a leading figure in innovation diplomacy and the Founder and CEO of Nest Accelerator. Headquartered in Paris and Riyadh, her work focuses on building transcontinental bridges between startup ecosystems in Europe, Africa, and the Middle East.The episode explores Hanafi’s extensive leadership in the global entrepreneurial landscape, including her tenure as the Head of Innovation & Entrepreneurship at UM6P France, where she spearheaded NextAfrica—the first Pan-African accelerator program established at Station F. We also highlight her role as the President Global Chair for the Startup Ecosystem at the G100 Women Economic Forum, where she advocates for innovation-driven entrepreneurship and supports women founders on a global scale. From her beginnings as the Co-founder of the award-winning PropTech startup Lok-iz to her current mission of empowering emerging markets, Hanafi’s career is defined by a commitment to cross-border collaboration and impactful innovation.