The official launch of the Egypt Innovate platform was announced today following its redevelopment, in the presence of Eng. Ahmed El Zaher, CEO of the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA); Mohamed Ihab, CEO of Entlaq; Haitham Hamza, representing ITIDA; Hanan Abdel Meguid, Founder and CEO of Kamelizer; and Hussein Mohie El Din, CEO of Robusta.
The announcement came on the sidelines of the AI Everything Middle East & Africa - Egypt exhibition, which brings together more than 250 AI startups and over 100 investors managing assets exceeding $50 billion, from more than 30 countries.
Platform Development
Eng. Ahmed El Zaher, CEO of ITIDA, said the Egypt Innovate platform was designed from the outset to represent the startup ecosystem and to be built from within that ecosystem itself. He explained that intensive teamwork with partners over the past period led to a final product that exceeded expectations.
He added that the platform aims to showcase all innovations and developments within Egypt’s entrepreneurship community and to present a comprehensive and accurate picture of the local ecosystem across its various sectors and components.
A Collaborative Entity
Haitham Hamza, representing ITIDA, stated that the Egypt Innovate platform had existed previously, but its official relaunch after redevelopment marks an important step forward. He noted that while the platform operates under the umbrella of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, it functions as a collaborative entity closely connected to the entrepreneurship community.
He added that the platform was built to serve the startup community by the community itself, with partners continuously contributing to its development and helping define the needs of the business environment they represent.
A Real Ecosystem Engine
Hamza said Egypt’s startup ecosystem has been evolving rapidly in recent months, supported by coordinated government efforts and integrated programs across multiple ministries. He stressed that the platform is one of the outcomes of this direction, alongside initiatives such as the Startup Charter.
He emphasized that the platform is not merely a database, but a real engine for the ecosystem, relying on data contributed directly by the entrepreneurship community, including success stories and practical experiences. He added that the platform will feature an Innovation Map and other supporting services, calling on startups and entrepreneurs to register and contribute their data.
A Unified Platform
Mohamed Ihab, CEO of Entlaq, said Egypt’s ecosystem needed a unified platform that consolidates its data and makes the market easier to understand for stakeholders both inside and outside the country.
He noted that development work on the platform continued for nearly two years, based on strong infrastructure and in cooperation with Kamelizer and Robusta, with the goal of building a high-level technical platform.
A Connecting Hub
Ihab explained that the platform’s core mission is to serve as the main gateway for anyone seeking to understand Egypt’s startup market, acting as a connector among all ecosystem players, including companies, government entities, investors, and universities.
He added that while the platform represents a foundational step, significant work remains to make it the largest specialized platform for startups and entrepreneurship in Egypt and the region. He stressed that it is designed to integrate with the business environment locally and internationally, and to help foreign investors enter the Egyptian market through a unified and trusted source of information.
The Platform’s Value
Hanan Abdel Meguid, Founder and CEO of Kamelizer, said the platform’s launch represents the realization of a long-standing vision supported by significant investments and efforts from many partners and contributors.
She noted that stakeholders widely agreed on the need for a platform that brings together key ecosystem players and provides the required technology and analytics tools, emphasizing that the platform’s full value depends on user engagement and participation.
She added that the platform’s visual identity and brand were designed to be dynamic and reflective of Egypt and the diversity of its innovation landscape, with plans for continuous development, as well as a strong focus on storytelling and highlighting startup success stories.
Future Features
Hussein Mohie El Din, CEO of Robusta, said the current launch represents the first version of the platform with a minimum set of core features, designed to enable participation and collaboration across the ecosystem.
He added that future feature development will depend heavily on user feedback, while ensuring that data remains community-driven rather than fully centralized.
He also pointed to plans to introduce smart tools and AI agents to further enhance the platform, alongside the launch of a ready-to-use chatbot, affirming a commitment to continuous updates and ongoing development in the coming phases.
Responses (0)