Arab Finance: The Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) launched an upgraded version of the "Egypt Innovate" platform, a national digital hub aimed at strengthening the country's innovation and entrepreneurship ecosystem, as per an emailed press release.
Developed and operated by a consortium led by Egyptian entrepreneurship firm Entlaq in partnership with technology company Robusta and digital marketing firm Kamelizer, the platform was unveiled during the AI Everything Middle East & Africa Summit and Exhibition in Cairo.
The platform is designed to connect startups, investors, universities, research institutions, and policymakers through a unified digital infrastructure, supporting Egypt's efforts to build a knowledge- and innovation-based economy.
It provides startups with access to investment opportunities through a database that showcases company activities, business models, and technological offerings. It also aims to strengthen links between ecosystem stakeholders and improve access to funding.
Ahmed ElZaher, CEO of ITIDA, said the revamped platform forms part of broader government initiatives to develop an integrated ecosystem for startups and entrepreneurship while leveraging data and advanced technologies to drive sustainable economic growth.
The platform includes Arabic-language content intended to improve accessibility for entrepreneurs and innovators across the region, ElZaher added.
During its pilot phase, Egypt Innovate registered more than 81,500 users, including entrepreneurs, innovators, and ecosystem supporters. The platform currently hosts 780 entities, including startups, investors, incubators, and research centers, and contains more than 3,700 pieces of content covering industry news, opportunities and specialized resources.
Meanwhile, CEO of Entlaq Mohamed Ehab said the platform was designed to serve as a national digital infrastructure connecting entrepreneurs with funding opportunities, expertise and investment networks.
Among its features are an AI-powered assistant, an interactive data map of ecosystem participants, startup showcase tools, investor matching services, training and mentorship resources, and a talent-matching platform aimed at supporting recruitment and workforce development.
The platform also includes an innovation marketplace linking researchers, innovators, and patent holders with industrial and investment partners, as well as a unified portal for local and international innovation challenges and competitions.
Furthermore, it operates under an open-data model and relies on a self-verification system under which participating companies and organizations are responsible for updating and maintaining their own information, with the aim of improving data accuracy and transparency.
