“ When  I was 16 years old, I had to fight and change school to be able to pursue my scientific studies. I wasn’t really good at mathematics, and instead of helping me, my teachers used to tell me how limited my potential was.

But I knew deep down that I wanted to work with computers. I had my first computer when I was 7 years old, and I started coding a few years later. Later, I worked hard to get enrolled in college to become a computer engineer.

One day, I was studying for my exams with my friend Elie, and we realized that we both had a very different way to understand and integrate the same teachings.

This is how we came up with the idea of developing an app that would provide customized teachings to each student, according to his/her level, learning pace and the most appropriate method for him/her.

The algorithm we developed evaluates these 3 criteria and offers customized lessons to students, who use the app during class, with their teachers.

Since we launched Augmental in 2016, the students who have the app increased their capacities by 30 % !

As of today, we work with 12-to-18-years-old students in various private schools in Lebanon. We hope to expand our project to public schools and universities in the country. Because it’s easy to get lost during your studies if you struggle with some concepts and don’t get help.  

If I had Augmental when I was a kid, I wouldn’t have had to fight that hard to fulfill my dream.”


Paul Barakat, 24, co-founded Augmental with his friend and partner Elie. The startup have been working for the past two years on developing a customized learning application to help students reach their full potential.

Text: Thomas Guichard