JICA's new initiative to fund and mentor start-ups in building a more sustainable Egypt

The Middle East has quite the analytical workforce, and with the high failure rate of many start-ups, comes the crucial step of applying the lessons learned.

Running a successful start-up in countries in the Middle East, like Egypt for example, involves tackling quite unique challenges.
The Middle East has quite the analytical workforce, and with the high failure rate of many start-ups, comes the crucial step of applying the lessons learned.
Enter the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA); a Japanese governmental development agency that aims to foster innovation by collaborating with local start-ups (like you) to contribute to the sustainable developmental goals (SDGs) in various countries, including (but not limited to) Egypt.
Here's how the JICA wants to help you...
Recently, the JICA launched the 'NINJA business plan competition' to specifically promote businesses emerging in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. NINJA is short for 'Next Innovation with Japan.'
(Refer to the link below to find a booklet of the introduction of all the start-ups.
PractiQ's Digital Consultants Team was hired by the JICA to provide monitoring and mentoring services for the selected start-ups. PractiQ is a management consulting firm specialised in managing transformations through technology-friendly enablement.
Three JICA success stories from start-ups who are building a more economically sustainable Egypt:
Empowering persons with disabilities by providing them with training programmes to prepare them for the workplace
Through the JICA's support, not only did our team of experts help Helm reach a more than adequate maturity, but we also gave them an exceptional understanding of their market for sustainable business.
To find out more about how Helm can support your company's journey for inclusion, visit the company's website:
Developing artificial intelligence (AI) and medical imaging technologies to empower radiology
With the JICA's support, DilenyTech was able to solidify its business model; and
in 2020, DilenyTech was granted its first US patent in medical imaging and was able to secure a $160,000 non-equity grant in 2021.
DilenyTech is a member of the NVIDIA Inception Programme and Microsoft for start-ups programme.
From Laboratory to Market; making harsh chemical-free, alcohol-free, easy-on-the-skin sanitisers and gels in an eco-friendly scope by the power of nanotechnology
The JICA helped From Laboratory to Market formulate the best product, test toll manufacturing, readiness for registration, find a strong pricing model, and supported them on how to close deals with prospective clients.
Here's what this means to the Egyptian Entrepreneur...
It means that no matter what your radical idea is, no matter how "small" your niche is, whether it's to make skin-friendly sanitisers, to help the disabled get accepted into coveted employment positions, or if you want to help physicians make better decisions for their patient cases, there is a way to make it work.
If your start-up puts sustainable development at the fore, the JICA can help; and its support has proven itself to help people — like you — turn newly incepted ideas into industry goliaths that helped the MENA region build a strong economy that's built on empathy, cutting-edge development, and economic growth.