Lamia Hanafi

Lamia Hanafi 

Lamia Hanafi is a Founder & CEO of Nest Accelerator, a visionary leader in global innovation, startup ecosystems, and transcontinental entrepreneurship. An internationally acclaimed entrepreneur and innovation strategist, she is celebrated for bridging startup ecosystems across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East. She has built a remarkable career empowering visionary entrepreneurs, scaling high-impact startups, and advising governments and corporations on innovation-driven growth.

As the driving force behind Nest Accelerator, the first transcontinental innovation hub dedicated to connecting and positioning emerging markets on the global startup map, Lamia is committed to fostering impactful collaborations that place emerging economies at the forefront of global innovation. In her role as Global Chair – Startup Ecosystem & Innovation at the Women Economic Forum (G100), she leads worldwide initiatives advancing female leadership in technology and entrepreneurship.

Previously, as Head of Innovation & Entrepreneurship at Université Mohammed VI Polytechnique (UM6P) France, Lamia conceived and launched NextAfrica — the first transcontinental accelerator program at Station F, the world’s largest startup campus — positioning African innovation on the global stage. Her strategic vision and international network played a pioneering role in establishing the first African university with a global presence at Station F, creating unprecedented opportunities for African startups in Europe.

Since 2016, Lamia has been a leading advocate for mobilizing African and diaspora startup founders, working closely with global institutions to leverage innovation and entrepreneurship as catalysts for sustainable development. Recognized among France’s Top 100 Startups, she co-founded an internationally awarded proptech startup in 2015. Her leadership and influence have been featured in Forbes, Voice of America, MoroccoWorldNews, Bilan.ch, Challenges, ArabLeaders, among others. She has delivered keynote talks at major global forums across Europe, Africa, and the Middle East, inspiring policymakers, investors, and entrepreneurs to embrace innovation as a driver of inclusive growth.

In 2016, Lamia was selected from thousands of entrepreneurs worldwide to join the Global Entrepreneurship Summit at Stanford University, hosted by President Barack Obama, where she was mentored by the Director of Innovation of the White House — an experience that deepened her strategic vision for transcontinental entrepreneurship. In 2025, she was named among Europe’s 40 Under 40 Business Leaders by the Business Elite Awards, honoring her exceptional contribution to global innovation.

A true architect of entrepreneurial education, Lamia has designed and delivered transformative bootcamps and startup programs at leading universities and institutions, equipping thousands of young leaders to launch impactful ventures. Internationally awarded for her achievements in innovation and entrepreneurship, she continues to mentor and advise startups worldwide, building strategic bridges between ecosystems and positioning emerging markets as powerhouses of the global startup economy.