EGYPT – Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) and the AUC Venture Lab accelerator are collaborating on Startup Launchpad, a capacity-building programme that aims to empower local entrepreneurs as they launch their technology startups.
The partnership between ITIDA and AUC Venture Lab, the accelerator programme based at the American University in Cairo (AUC), aims to support entrepreneurs through extensive training and rich content.
Read also: New VC Fund Launches For SA Entrepreneurs To Expand Into Europe
The program, powered by ITIDA, will be delivered by AUC Venture Lab, a member of the Babson Collaborative for Entrepreneurship Education, which was founded by Babson College, the US-based globally leading educational institute in the field of entrepreneurship.
With the aim of supporting and inspiring the Egyptian entrepreneurship ecosystem, the joint eight-week program offers tech entrepreneurs all over Egypt extensive training, networking and skill development opportunities to help them effectively develop business ideas and increase their startups’ chances of survival and success.
Designed for individuals who are passionate about technology and have an interest in entrepreneurship, Startup Launchpad will help participants validate their innovative solutions, identify market gaps and overcome the most commonly-faced challenges. The program starts in January and ends with a pitch day in March.
The program starts with an introductory training on the basics of entrepreneurship, the different growth stages of startups and the principles of marketing and finance. During the second week, entrepreneurs will start developing their business ideas and prototyping them.
Over the few weeks that follow, participants will receive guidance and expert mentorship while they validate their solutions and perform market experiments with real-life customers to ensure that their ideas have the potential to become scalable successful ventures.
The final stage of the program will help entrepreneurs master the art of pitching their startups, elevating their presentation and communication skills and allowing them to present their ideas to potential investors at a pitch day in March.
Entrepreneurs can apply to join the program from November 15 through January 3. Entrepreneurs will be awarded certificates from ITIDA and AUC Venture Lab upon completion of the program.
In the last couple of years, there has been a boost in the tech startup ecosystem in Egypt and has evolved dynamically where the government is actively supporting tech innovation nationwide.
The number of technology startups has amplified fast with increased attention from local and international VCs. During the first half of 2020, reports announced that Egyptian startups received the largest amount of investment in the Middle East and North Africa.
The 2020 Global Startup Ecosystem Report (GSER) highlighted Cairo as the perfect test bed for innovation and an attractive market for scalability where it was ranked as one of the top 10 global ecosystems for affordable talent in 2020 and one of the top 10 Africa and middle eastern ecosystem in funding.
Read full article here
GetFundedAfrica’s mission is to uplift people and economies in Africa through entrepreneurship; helping companies find funding, grow, create jobs and solve society’s greatest challenges
Guest Contribution, GFA Attract & Application Portal For Funding
GFA Attract Interview
Katherine (Kate) Pam is a seasoned Business Consultant and Social Entrepreneur with over 17 years of experience in consulting, oil and gas and financial services sectors. She is Group CEO of The Stalwart Group, which comprises three thriving subsidiaries. Watch Here
GFA Attract Interview
In this Episode of GFA Attract we interviewed Efemini Awosika who is the CEO of Robert &John and Efemini Academy, shehas worked professionally for several years, schooled in different continents and obtained a number of degrees now an entrepreneur. Watch Here
Apply For Funding
GetFundedAfrica provides equity capital from $1,000 to $50,000.
For larger amounts (Above $50,000)
we organize syndicated funding rounds of up to $500,000.
Apply Here
Follow Us
“Business is always a struggle. There are always obstacles and competitors. There is never an open road, except the wide road that leads to failure. Every great success has always been achieved by fight, every winner has scars. The men who succeed are the efficient few –they are the few who have the ambition and will-power to develop themselves. So choose to be among the few today.”
– Chris Kirubi, Centum Investment, Kenya
