Jana (left) and Rayan Barhouche, co-founders of the Lebanese start-up Beaver Edu. (Credit: Provided by Jana Barhouche)
"It's a bit like winning the Oscars of toys," says a delighted Jana Barhouche, 26, director of the Lebanese startup Beaver Edu, the creator of an educational wooden construction kit.
Founded just three months ago by Jana and her brother Rayan, 32, the young company won the ToyAward on Wednesday in the startup category, one of the most prestigious distinctions in the industry, awarded at the world’s largest toy fair in Nuremberg, Germany.
Their flagship toy, the "Beaver Edu Construction Kit," is made up of birch wood sticks that can be assembled endlessly.
Connected by modular connectors, these elements allow for the creation of a multitude of structures, from cranes to bridges, to helicopters or any type of construction a child’s imagination can come up with.
“The idea came first and foremost from Rayan’s passion for inventing and assembling things. He wondered how a single piece could be used in multiple ways,” explains Jana Barhouche to L'Orient-Le Jour.
This reflection led to the development of a patented safety cutting tool designed for children over nine, allowing them to cut wood safely.
The Nuremberg Toy Fair brings together more than 2,300 exhibitors and nearly 57,000 visitors from around the world every year. More than 600 applications were submitted across the ToyAward’s six categories, with about 90 in the startup category.
After an initial selection based on the application, Beaver Edu was named one of three finalists in the startup category on Jan. 22 and ultimately won.
In its statement, the jury praised “a simple and safe construction toy that combines technical thinking and manual work,” also highlighting “the infinite expansion possibilities offered by the system.”
While Jana Barhouche lives in Lebanon, her brother, the toy creator, works from Brazil. Since launching the startup, “progress has been rapid, fueled by positive feedback from customers,” the young woman says.
In October 2024, the founders began the research and development phase in partnership with Collège Notre-Dame de Sahel Alma (Kesrouan district) to test and validate the final product. The commercial launch took place in fall 2025.
Today, the toys are sold online, in certain schools, and through the JouéClub franchise, a partner and investor in the project, along with Toy Market Group.
'The potential is huge'
But Beaver Edu doesn’t just make toys. The startup is also developing educational programs, integrated into school curricula or offered as extracurricular activities, and works with eight schools across the country.
“Students are encouraged to apply in practice the theoretical concepts they cover in class, whether in math, physics, or logic,” the co-founder explains.
Production is currently split between Lebanon and China, where raw materials are sourced.
While assembly and packaging take place in Lebanon, “ultimately, the entire process should be transferred to China to facilitate export,” the director says.
For Jana Barhouche, this award has special meaning. “This is the moment we’re most proud of,” she says. The young entrepreneur is now eager to expand the startup’s network and increase collaborations with schools.
“The impact is real — whether on creativity, problem-solving, or hands-on learning. The potential is huge,” she assures.
In the longer term, Beaver Edu aims to be present in as many schools as possible in Lebanon, while also seeking expansion into Gulf countries, “where investments in the education sector are growing rapidly.”
This article was translated from L'Orient-Le Jour.
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