On Thursday, February 12, Egypt launched “Egypt Innovate,” the country’s first fully integrated national digital platform for innovation and entrepreneurship, during the AI Everything Middle East & Africa exhibition in Cairo. The event drew delegations from over 30 countries, highlighting Egypt’s growing focus on fostering a knowledge-based economy through advanced technologies.
Developed by a consortium led by Entlaq, with partners Robusta and Kamelizer, the platform creates a public-private alliance that unites startups, investors, universities, research centers, and public institutions within a single digital ecosystem. It is designed to facilitate collaboration, streamline access to funding, and elevate Egypt’s entrepreneurial ecosystem on both regional and international stages.
Ahmed ElZaher, CEO of ITIDA, emphasized that Egypt Innovate aligns with the national strategy for building a knowledge-based economy by leveraging data and advanced technologies to drive sustainable growth. The platform showcases young companies’ business models and value propositions through a dynamic database, helping investors discover and support emerging ventures.
A key feature of the platform is its focus on Arabic-language content, aimed at enhancing digital inclusion and developing local skills. By providing technical and entrepreneurial resources in founders’ native language, authorities hope to broaden access to opportunities and strengthen Egypt’s position as a regional hub for innovation.
Following its pilot phase, Egypt Innovate now connects 780 entities, including startups, investors, incubators, and research centers, and hosts over 3,700 sector-specific resources. The platform supports a community of more than 81,000 registered users, backed by expert advisors who guide engagement and growth within the ecosystem.
The platform’s AI-powered tools include a digital assistant, an interactive ecosystem map, an automated system for matching startups with investors, and a learning center offering training, mentorship, and entrepreneurial simulations. A self-verification mechanism allows entities to update their own information, ensuring data reliability and accuracy.
Egypt Innovate complements existing initiatives aimed at structuring and financing the country’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, one of the most dynamic in the region. In 2025, Egyptian startups raised nearly $614 million in venture capital and debt financing, reflecting growing investor confidence. Within this context, the platform seeks to enhance coordination among stakeholders and simplify funding access in an increasingly mature market.
