Egypt has paved the way among Arab nations by pioneering incubators and accelerators for startups, launching its first business incubators in 1995 via the Social Fund under the banner of the Egyptian Association for Small Business Incubators. As a reference point, the UAE’s first incubator, FasterCapital, was only launched in 2010. Saudi’s first incubator, Badir Program for Technology Incubators and Accelerators, was launched earlier in 2008.

Over the past twenty years, the number of these entities has sky-rocketed, positioning Egypt as a regional leader in entrepreneurship and investment, especially at the front-end of the funnel. Startups are chosen by these organizations and inducted into programs that offer training modules, specialized mentorship, funding, media outreach, governmental liaison, investor introductions, and expansive networking opportunities.

Key Incubators and Accelerators

EBNI Incubator

• Website: www.ebni.io
• Established Year: 1997

Since its establishment in 1997, EBNI has been a pioneering non-profit accelerator, carving a unique niche as the Middle East’s first accelerator program distinctly focused on IoT hardware. Through its expansive global network, EBNI offers a suite of financial, technical, and administrative assistance opening gateways for entrepreneurs to stretch their wings across international markets and escalate their businesses proficiently.

With a funding contribution around $11,000 and $55,000 for incubation and accelerator programs respectively under the EU startup funding initiatives, EBNI facilitates startups right from the application stage to adept management of their operations and tracking of availed funds, creating a holistic and nurturing environment for businesses in their nascent stages.

Visit Ebni’s Investor Page here

 

StartupBootCamp

• Website: www.startupbootcamp.org
• Established Year: 2010

Launched in 2010 by Alex Farcet, Carsten Kolbek, Patrick Zeeuw, and Ruud Hendriks, Startupbootcamp (SBC) Fintech Cairo is the Egyptian chapter of the global SBC network. Over an intense 26-week program, SBC FinTech Cairo provides a curated selection of 10 fintech startups with meticulously hands-on mentorship from over 100 industry maestros, strategic office space in Cairo, and an unparalleled access to a global network of investors and corporate partners across the fintech industry. With collaborative partnerships with the likes of Visa, IFC, and Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), SBC Cairo places particular emphasis on solutions that amplify financial inclusion as well as fintech proficiency and usher innovative products into the market.

Visit StartupBootCamp Fintech Cairo’s Investor Page here

 

Flat6Labs

• Website: www.flat6labs.com
• Established Year: 2011

Founded in 2011 by some of the same innovative minds behind Sawari Ventures, Flat6Labs has burgeoned into a paragon of seed funding management for startups, asserting a robust presence not only in its home country but also proliferating across MENA. It manages eight seed funds across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Tunisia, Beirut, Bahrain, and Jordan, aggregating to a remarkable total value of $85 million, and liaises with 25 institutional investors and limited partners through its 3-month program. 

Last year, Flat6Labs etched its name amongst the top ten investors in the MEAPT region, directing 19% of its 26 investments towards opportunities in North Africa. Its 1864 Accelerator also stands out as Egypt’s first accelerator program primarily focused on fintech, underscoring their commitment to nurturing innovation and entrepreneurship within the burgeoning local financial ecosystem.

Visit Flat6Labs’ Investor Page here

AUC Venture Lab

• Website: www.aucegypt.edu/
• Established Year: 2013

Established by The American University in Cairo, AUC Venture Lab (V-Lab) is the first university-based business accelerator and incubator in Egypt. Since 2013, the accelerator has bolstered over 270 businesses across a myriad of industries through its distinctly formulated 16-week accelerator programs. AUC V-Lab affords both early and growth-stage entrepreneurs a wealth of opportunities through two separate accelerator programs: a sector-agnostic one, which attends to a variety of industries including e-commerce, healthtech, and greentech, and another that is meticulously crafted to cater exclusively to fintech companies. 

V-Lab’s strengths comes from its ability to seamlessly connect entrepreneurs with AUC’s vast alumni network and industry partners while providing training, mentorship, and privileged access to AUC’s impressive facilities and expansive knowledge reservoir. Generally, startups achieve their fullest potential through a 3-month incubation program and tailored funding dependent on each startup’s unique business nature to connect with the global entrepreneurial world. 

Visit AUC Venture Lab’s Investor Page here

 

Entlaq Accelerator

• Website: https://entlaq.com/
• Established Year: 2023

Established in 2023 by Mohamed Ehab Hafez, CEO of Entlaq Holding, Entlaq’s accelerator program is an early-stage accelerator aimed to nurture the Egyptian entrepreneurial ecosystem. Targeting startups with genuine solutions poised for scaling, the program aims to cultivate entrepreneurs equipped to contribute to the ecosystem's growth in Egypt and the MENA region.

In February 2024, Entlaq celebrated the graduation of its first batch. According to the Daily News Egypt, Aya Ismail, co-founder and head of the Entlaq Business Accelerator sector, announced that the inaugural batch comprised nine companies from diverse sectors, including green technology, manufacturing, healthcare technology, agricultural technology, and deep technology. Notably, over 120 startups were registered in the accelerator program.

Visit Entlaq Accelerator’s Investor Page here

 

Next Read: Key Stakeholders Promoting Tech Ecosytem in Egypt

Read more in the Special Report, ‘Investing in Egypt’s Startup Ecosystem’.