Egypt’s Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade has launched the “Startup Egypt” platform to support the country’s entrepreneurship ecosystem and accelerate the growth of startups. The ministry is also studying the establishment of a venture capital company in cooperation with The Sovereign Fund of Egypt to provide the liquidity needed to finance startups and support their expansion, particularly at later growth stages.

Speaking at the platform’s launch ceremony, Minister of Investment and Foreign Trade Mohamed Farid said startups are among the key drivers of economic growth and job creation. He noted that the new platform is the first of its kind to directly connect entrepreneurs and startups with government entities, investors, and financing institutions, helping support policy development, institutional dialogue, growth, and expansion.

Farid added that the biggest challenge facing Egypt’s startup ecosystem is not limited to early-stage financing, but rather securing the necessary funding for later growth and expansion phases. This has encouraged the ministry to cooperate with The Sovereign Fund of Egypt to develop new mechanisms to support investment in startups, including the establishment of a venture capital company that would be listed on the stock exchange.

He said the proposed company is expected to encourage major financial institutions, including insurance companies, pension funds, and banks, to increase their indirect investments in this vital sector, while providing more flexible exit mechanisms through capital markets.

Farid also said the Ministry of Investment and the General Authority for Investment and Free Zones are continuing to develop legislative and regulatory frameworks that support startups. He noted that a new regulatory package and amendments to the executive regulations of the Companies Law are close to completion, aiming to simplify business procedures and modern financing mechanisms.

The minister explained that the government is currently working on regulations to address challenges related to convertible notes, while also facilitating shareholder agreements and enhancing the regulatory flexibility needed to attract investment.

He stressed that expanding exports of digital services and products is a key pillar in building Egyptian companies capable of competing globally. Farid added that startups should use the local market as a launchpad to expand into regional and international markets and achieve sustainable growth.

The “Startup Egypt” platform aims to strengthen integration among different players in Egypt’s entrepreneurship ecosystem by providing a space for dialogue, coordination, knowledge exchange, and connecting entrepreneurs with investors, service providers, and supporting institutions. The platform is expected to help accelerate startup growth, increase access to financing, and support expansion across local and international markets.