Amr Talaat, Egypt's Minister of Communications and Information Technology, recently announced a remarkable surge in investments in the country's technology startups, with the total volume of funding increasing sevenfold from 2020 to 2025 compared to the previous five-year period. Talaat highlighted that this surge in investment reflects not only the growing momentum of Egypt's startup ecosystem but also the country's increasing appeal as a destination for both local and international investors. The surge is a direct result of Egypt's innovation-driven reforms, which have created a more conducive environment for entrepreneurship. Talaat emphasized that the rising levels of startup activity have significantly contributed to Egypt's improved ranking in the Global Innovation Index, positioning the country as a regional hub for technological and entrepreneurial innovation. The Minister underscored that Egypt's tech sector is showcasing a creative and dynamic entrepreneurial spirit, with startups continuously pushing the boundaries of innovation in fields ranging from artificial intelligence (AI) to blockchain and beyond. During his keynote address at the "Techne Summit 2025" held at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina from October 4 to 6, Talaat unveiled an upgraded version of the EgyptInnovate platform. Developed by local startups, the platform is designed to facilitate networking opportunities between Egyptian startups and both local and international investors. The revamped platform offers an interactive map that allows investors to explore detailed information about Egyptian startups, view their technological innovations, and gain insights into the various entities active within Egypt's startup ecosystem. One of the key new features of the platform is its AI-powered tools, including a chatbot designed to provide technical, business, and economic consultations to entrepreneurs. The chatbot is expected to be an invaluable resource for early-stage startups, helping them navigate the complex landscape of entrepreneurship and investment. In addition, the platform includes a comprehensive directory of support services available to startups at different stages of their development. This directory highlights financial, technical, and training support provided by government bodies, NGOs, and civil society organizations. The platform's open-source approach ensures accessibility to entrepreneurs across the country, offering them valuable tools to facilitate their growth. The upgraded EgyptInnovate platform currently has over 70,000 users, and Talaat revealed that efforts are underway to double this number in the near future. The platform is seen as a critical tool for helping Egyptian entrepreneurs connect with investors and collaborators, as well as to access a wealth of resources that can accelerate the growth of their businesses. Talaat also pointed to the broader context of Egypt's digital transformation, noting that one of the three central pillars of the Digital Egypt strategy focuses on supporting creative thinking, innovation, and entrepreneurship. He highlighted the vital role of "Creativa" centers, part of the Ministry's efforts to provide hands-on support to entrepreneurs. Launched in 2018 with just three centers, the Creativa initiative has expanded to 24 centers across 21 governorates. These centers are designed to provide training, technical support, and access to incubation services for startups. To date, over 790 companies have benefited from these services, which include state-of-the-art training labs and resources aimed at helping startups scale their operations and develop commercially viable solutions. In the last 18 months, 69 companies were incubated through the Creativa program, producing prototypes and refining their products in collaboration with industry experts. Talaat emphasized that the goal of these programs is to help startups build market-ready solutions that have the potential to attract both domestic and foreign investment. He noted that such technical support is essential in ensuring that startups are able to compete effectively not only in local markets but in regional and international markets as well. Access to financing continues to be a key challenge for many entrepreneurs, and Talaat highlighted the Ministry's ongoing efforts to address this issue. He pointed to the Ministry's strategic partnerships with global investment firms such as "Plug and Play" and "500 Global," which play an instrumental role in facilitating investment for Egyptian startups. These partnerships, which initially began in Cairo, have now expanded to Upper Egypt, with networking events for investors and startups held at the Creativa Digital Egypt Centre in Aswan. Talaat confirmed that the second phase of this expansion will cover additional regions in Egypt, including the Delta, Canal, and Alexandria. Additionally, Talaat emphasized the role of financial support programs in enabling startups to access the resources they need to grow. The "Start IT" program, for example, offers financial and in-kind packages worth up to EGP 1m per company. This includes cash funding as well as cloud computing services worth around EGP 500,000 provided by Amazon Web Services. Another notable initiative is the "Creativa Incubation" program, which provides startups with around EGP 400,000 in support over a nine-month incubation period. These programs are designed to help startups overcome early-stage barriers and scale their businesses. The Ministry also places significant emphasis on expanding the global reach of Egyptian startups. Talaat highlighted Egypt's participation in international events such as the "Web Summit" in Portugal, one of the largest technology conferences in the world. This year, 24 Egyptian startups will showcase their innovations at the event, representing Egypt as a growing hub for technology and innovation in the region. In addition to Talaat, several key figures also spoke at the Techne Summit 2025. Ahmed Khaled Said, Governor of Alexandria, expressed his pride in hosting the summit in his city. He highlighted the importance of innovation in shaping Egypt's future and noted that Alexandria is positioning itself as a center for technology and entrepreneurship. Said introduced the "Smart Alexandria" initiative, which aims to address the city's challenges using cutting-edge technologies and smart applications. The initiative will bring together local authorities, the private sector, and youth to drive the city's digital transformation. Dag Juhlin-Dannfelt, Swedish Ambassador to Egypt, spoke about the growing importance of collaboration between Egypt and Sweden in technology and innovation. He emphasized that Swedish companies are playing a key role in Egypt's tech ecosystem, especially in the fields of AI and digital solutions. He also noted that Sweden has a national AI strategy and that responsible AI can play a transformative role in creating solutions that benefit society at large. Finally, Ahmed El Wakil, President of the Union of Mediterranean Chambers of Commerce, spoke about the pivotal role startups and SMEs play in driving economic growth. He underscored that digital economies, powered by innovation and technology, are essential to creating new jobs and economic opportunities, especially for youth. El Wakil commended the Ministry's efforts to put Egypt on the global map as a leader in technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship.
