Egypt’s technology startup ecosystem is entering a new phase of maturity, fueled by ambitious
founders and strengthened by strategic institutional partnerships Central to this evolution is the
three-year collaboration between the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA)
and global venture capital firm 500 Global, which has helped create a more connected, performance
driven environment for tech entrepreneurship in Egypt Eng Ahmed Elzaher, CEO of ITIDA, emphasized
that the agency’s mission focuses on accelerating Egypt’s technology sector growth by supporting local
and international IT companies, expanding digital services exports, and nurturing tech startups as a key
driver of sustainable innovation He added that freelancers remain an essential component of Egypt’s
digital economy, while the country’s deep pool of digital talent continues to be a competitive advantage
in the region Elzaher shared these insights during a panel discussion with Bedy Yang, Managing Partner
at 500 Global, and Amal Enan, Partner at 500 Global Egypt, marking three years of partnership between
ITIDA and 500 Global
Strategic Partnership Anchored in Performance and Expertise
The success of the ITIDA–500 Global partnership is grounded in clearly defined performance
metrics, mutual trust, and complementary capabilities. This approach has enabled the delivery
of high-impact programs and the transfer of global best practices into Egypt’s startup ecosystem
setting a model for effective collaboration between government agencies and private venture capital firms
Expanding Impact Through Accelerator Leadership
A flagship initiative under this partnership is the Bootcamp for Accelerator Managers (BAM)
designed to scale the impact of accelerators across Egypt Through BAM, 500 Global’s expertise
in accelerator management has been shared with a broad range of Egypt’s accelerator landscape
creating a ripple effect that enhances the quality of support for tech startups nationwide
This initiative is part of ITIDA’s broader strategy to build an integrated and sustainable
entrepreneurship ecosystem, linking global best practices with local innovation hubs to enable
Egyptian founders to scale their businesses locally, regionally, and internationally
ITIDA leverages its Creativa Innovation Hubs, spread across Egypt’s governorates, to ensure
that entrepreneurship growth is decentralized and inclusive, reaching talent outside Cairo and
connecting local challenges with scalable, market-ready solutions
Success Stories of Egyptian Tech Startups
Over the past three years, 197 Egyptian startups participated in nine cohorts of 500 Global Egypt’s
Seed Bootcamp and Scale Up programs, involving over 380 founders. Collectively, these startups
attracted $6 million in direct investment during the programs and raised over $54 million in follow-on
funding The partnership also produced two successful exits, $1.3 million in grants and awards, and
created more than 1,300 full-time jobs Highlighted startups include Rahet Bally, ILLA, Dayra, Amanleek
El Gameya, Blnk, Settle, and Bluworks, while other ventures successfully expanded regionally and
internationally, such as Khazenly, Nowlun, and Enza. Additional discussions showcased founders
who achieved exits or mergers, including Orcas, Hatla2ee, and WRK+
BAM: Strengthening Accelerator Capabilities Nationwide
The Bootcamp for Accelerator Managers (BAM) has been a key driver of ecosystem development
More than 125 accelerator managers and senior team members from over 55 accelerators participated
demonstrating the program’s wide-reaching impact. Follow-up assessments indicated that
63% of participants advanced into higher-impact leadership roles
56% reported clearer and more competitive accelerator strategies
51% improved the quality of programs delivered to startups
40% achieved measurable gains in key performance indicators
These results highlight the program’s ability to translate training into operational and
economic impact across Egypt’s entrepreneurship ecosystem
Looking Ahead: Focus on Deep-Tech and Artificial Intelligence
Eng Elzaher noted that the next phase of the partnership will prioritize deep-tech startups
particularly in Artificial Intelligence (AI), alongside specialized programs aimed at improving
investment readiness and supporting international expansion Future initiatives will leverage
ITIDA’s nationwide Creativa Innovation Hubs, further decentralizing opportunities and fostering
innovation driven by local challenges with global market potential
500 Global: Global Expertise Fueling Egyptian Innovation
Bedy Yang, Managing Partner at 500 Global, emphasized
We work to empower entrepreneurs worldwide through a global innovation and knowledge
transfer network In Egypt, our partnership with the government has created clear value for
both parties, exceeding expectations She added
Egypt has a rich talent pool, but it requires mentorship and education, with accelerator managers
acting as the key enablers. Egyptian startups are capable of delivering advanced technological solutions
including in AI We have already invested in several companies, including those in Mansoura, and we
value the Egyptian government’s flexibility and support, which has enabled this partnership to achieve all its goals