The event is organized under the auspices of the Ministerial Group for Entrepreneurship, with support from the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, and the Egyptian Tourism Promotion Authority.
The third edition of the Entlaq Summit kicked off in El Gouna with the unveiling of the Egyptian Entrepreneurship Sector Diagnostic Report (SDR 2025).
The event is organized under the auspices of the Ministerial Group for Entrepreneurship, with support from the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, and the Egyptian Tourism Promotion Authority.
In a recorded address, Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, stressed that the Egypt Startup Charter is set to empower more than 5,000 startups and create 500,000 jobs over the next five years. She highlighted that the initiative has the full backing of President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, reflecting the government’s commitment to building an innovation-based economy and positioning Egypt as a leader regionally and globally.
The summit is supported by a range of private sector partners. Platinum sponsors include EgyptAir, Talabat, and Keheilan Asset Management, while gold sponsors include e& Egypt, Flat6Labs, Sawari Ventures, and Dar El Nahda for Printing and Publishing. Organizers said this wide base of support illustrates the diverse role of technology companies, venture capital firms, and cultural institutions in strengthening Egypt’s startup ecosystem.
The gathering brings together senior government leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, and representatives of financial institutions, startups, accelerators, and incubators.
It provides a forum for sharing knowledge, showcasing success stories, and discussing opportunities in Egypt’s entrepreneurial economy.
At the center of the summit is the release of SDR 2025, Entlaq’s flagship evidence-based report, which examines the state of entrepreneurship in Egypt.
The report highlights both opportunities and challenges, including a $1 billion funding gap, regulatory hurdles, and structural imbalances, while offering reform pathways and actionable solutions.
Omar Rezk, Managing Director of Entlaq, said the summit comes at a critical time for the ecosystem. “Startup investments fell from $608 million in 2023 to $334 million in 2024, while Egypt’s share of regional venture capital dropped from 25% in 2021 to 11% in 2024. This summit is about restoring momentum and confidence,” he noted.
Rezk added that the report draws on more than 400 surveys and 15 interviews with investors and regulators. He also pointed to inclusion challenges: “Although women make up 38% of founders, they secured only 1.3% of investment deals in 2023–2024, and just 2% in the first half of 2025. Closing this gap is vital for inclusive growth.”
The summit’s agenda features four main panels covering macroeconomic reform, investment drivers, financing gaps, and strategies for inclusive entrepreneurship.
Entlaq continues to position itself as a leading think tank in Africa and the Middle East, dedicated to fostering innovation, empowering entrepreneurs, and promoting sustainable growth across the region.
