Marc Kabbouche (L) and Paul Harfouche (R), the two co-founders of the Nomad app, on June 2, 2026. Photo provided by Kabbouche.
BEIRUT — New Lebanese app Nomad is now online, promising to make it easier for nightlife-goers to decide where to go out and for bars to reach the right crowd.
Founded by Lebanese entrepreneurs Marc Kabbouche and Paul Harfouche, both 27, Nomad is positioning itself as a “social nightlife” app, rather than a reservation or ticketing platform.
“There are already several platforms that support the logistics side of nightlife. We’re bringing the first social nightlife app,” Kabbouche told L’Orient Today.
The app, launched two weeks ago, allows users to see where their friends are choosing to go out, follow live nightlife updates from selected bars and clubs, check where the crowd is, and earn points that can be redeemed for rewards across partner venues.
‘The Michelin for bars’
Kabbouche and Harfouche left Lebanon in 2021 and returned last year to work on the project full time. Kabbouche worked at Amazon in Montreal after completing an MBA, while Harfouche was based in London, where he worked in consulting with a master’s degree in sustainable energy.
The idea for Nomad emerged during one of their visits to Lebanon, when they noticed that despite the large number of bars, clubs, and resto-bars in the country, there was no platform helping users decide where to go out or “how to fully benefit from the country’s nightlife.”
They began developing the project while still abroad, speaking with bars and potential users to better understand what people wanted from such a platform.
“When we saw there was traction, we quit everything,” Kabbouche said. “I left Montreal, Paul left London, and we came back to Lebanon to try to make it a reality.” Their return comes despite years of crisis, instability and war that have pushed many young Lebanese professionals abroad.
The startup was funded through angel investment and the founders’ own savings, the amount of which could not be disclosed at this stage.
Unlike listing platforms, Nomad does not aim to include every venue. The founders say they are deliberately curating bars and clubs on the app. Kabbouche said Lebanon has hundreds of bars, but Nomad currently works with fewer than 50 venues.
“We want to be the Michelin for bars,” he said. “If the bar is on Nomad, then it should be a good one.”
The app includes a dedicated nightlife feed, where partner venues can post events and updates. According to Kabbouche, this is meant to address a problem many bars face on social media, as Instagram posts can disappear quickly on users’ feeds.
The app is free for users. Its rewards system allows them to earn points when they check in or pay bills at partner venues, which can then be redeemed for perks such as free shots or drinks.
Nomad also offers a premium model, giving users access to exclusive deals at affiliated venues, such as buy-one-get-one offers or complimentary items.
The launch, however, came amid a difficult security and economic environment in Lebanon. Kabbouche said the team had initially planned to launch around late February, but delayed the rollout because of the ongoing Israeli war in Lebanon and the regional turmoil.
“It didn’t make sense to launch a social nightlife app during that time,” he said. “The situation had a strong impact on the nightlife industry as a whole. Several places reduced capacity or shut down because of the war.”
Still, he said the situation did not discourage the founders from continuing.
“If there’s one sector that’ll always bounce back in Lebanon, it’s this one,” he said.
For now, Nomad is focused on Lebanon, with several partner venues in Beirut and its surrounding areas. As summer approaches, they plan to expand the network to Batroun, Jbeil, Jounieh, Metn, and others, where nightlife activity is expected to pick up.
“In the past few months, we saw nightlife shift toward Naccashe, Dbayeh, and other spots where people feel more comfortable,” Kabbouche said. “During the summer, people will spend more time in Batroun, Jbeil, and other coastal regions.”
For now, the startup remains in an early growth phase. Kabbouche said any short-term revenue would be reinvested into improving the app, marketing, and expanding the venue network.
The founders also have plans to expand beyond Lebanon. “The end goal is to have Nomad with you wherever you go,” he said. “You could earn points at a terrace in Paris and spend them at a pub in London.”
