The Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center (TIEC), part of the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA), in collaboration with Flat6Labs—the leading entrepreneurship platform in emerging markets —successfully hosted the Invest IT Demo Day, aimed at supporting Egyptian startups in securing funding and enabling their expansion across local, regional, and global markets.
The event marks a major milestone in the second phase of the Invest IT program, jointly implemented by TIEC and Flat6Labs. The program is designed to strengthen the growth of Egyptian startups through an integrated package of technical and managerial support, equipping them for successful investment rounds and accelerating their expansion into new markets.
The program operates in two phases: the first focuses on investment readiness through intensive training programs, workshops, and personalized mentorship sessions, while the second emphasizes connecting participating startups with local, regional, and international investors to create tangible funding opportunities and support their expansion.
The event was attended by Engineer Ahmed El-Zaher, CEO of the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA); Mr. Ahmed El-Alfi, Co-Founder of Flat6Labs; Mr. Yehia Houry, CEO of Flat6Labs; and Ms. Lamiaa El Rashidy, Senior Incubation Department Manager at TIEC, along with founders of the participating startups, representatives of accelerators, incubators, venture capital funds, and both international and local investors active in the entrepreneurship and startup ecosystem.
Earlier in the day, an exclusive Investor Mixer brought together 11 prominent international investors visiting Egypt for the first time, including: Novastar Ventures (Kenya), Verod Kepple Africa Ventures (Japan), Launch Africa, and Newtown Partners (South Africa), European Business Angel Network (Brussels), Norrsken 22 (Nigeria), New Silk Roads (Netherlands), CDG Invest (Morocco), Keirestsu Forum (USA), and Enza Capital (Kenya)—reflecting the growing international interest in Egypt's entrepreneurship and startup ecosystem and its promising opportunities in the technology sector.
During the mixer, the startups participating in the Invest IT program held meetings with investors to discuss growth strategies, investment opportunities, and expansion plans across regional and global markets. The session was organized with the aim of establishing effective communication channels between entrepreneurs and investors, fostering strategic partnerships that enhance investment flows into the Egyptian market, and enabling startups to grow, expand, and compete regionally and globally.
In his remarks, Engineer Ahmed El-Zaher, CEO of ITIDA, affirmed that ITIDA is working to empower Egyptian entrepreneurs and strengthen the capabilities of startups through a comprehensive set of programs and initiatives aimed at fostering innovation, facilitating access to finance, and expanding opportunities for youth across all governorates.
He added that this comes as part of ITIDA's strategy to reinforce Egypt's position as a regional hub for startups and entrepreneurship, noting that ITIDA's efforts focus on building an integrated entrepreneurship ecosystem capable of competing globally, attracting investment, boosting digital exports, and contributing to sustainable economic growth while creating quality job opportunities nationwide.
El-Zaher further emphasized that the Invest IT Program embodies the agency's commitment to connecting Egyptian startups with investors both locally and internationally, helping them unlock their growth potential and expand globally, while further consolidating Egypt's position as a regional hub for entrepreneurship and high-value digital services in the Middle East and Africa.
Hany AlSonbaty, Chairman and Co-founder of Flat6Labs: "At Flat6Labs, we have always believed that Egypt has the talent, creativity, and determination to build world-class startups. Our collaboration with ITIDA under the Invest IT program proves that when the right support and global exposure come together, Egyptian entrepreneurs can attract international investors and scale across markets. We extend our sincere appreciation to ITIDA for its continued trust and partnership. Its leadership and vision have been instrumental in opening global doors for Egyptian startups and positioning Egypt as a regional innovation hub."
Prior to the Demo Day, Flat6Labs and TIEC also organized an Online Investor Mixer as part of Phase Two of the Invest IT program. This virtual event provided participating startups with direct access to local investors and venture capital funds from Egypt and the broader region. Notable participants included: Egypt Ventures, Sequence Ventures, Den VC, DPI VC, Plus VC, Orbit Ventures, Alex Angels, Foundations Ventures, Lantern Ventures, UI Ventures, BECO Capital, 500 Global, Disruptech, and Silicon Badia. The sessions explored growth opportunities and investment prospects in emerging tech innovations, contributing to expanding the investor base supporting Egyptian startups and strengthening connections within the local and regional investment ecosystem.
The participating startups are divided into two main categories according to their development stage and investment maturity. The Seed Funding stage includes The White Guard, operating in cybersecurity and the production of high-quality personal protective equipment; Dragify, offering AI-based solutions for the financial sector; HNDL, specializing in fleet management technologies within logistics; and Turuq, providing innovative smart shipping and packaging solutions. Also featured are Skoolix, which develops intelligent digital learning tools; Atoms AI, which automates semiconductor inspection using artificial intelligence; and PhotonSmart, offering energy-efficient smart devices tailored for hotels and residential properties.
The Pre-Series A stage comprises more mature startups ready for growth and expansion, including Valify, specializing in AI-driven digital identity verification; Qubefyn, developing AI-powered data intelligence solutions; Venu, a digital platform for event organization and management; Amanleek, providing insurtech solutions for individuals and enterprises; LyRise, delivering affordable AI-driven business solutions; and Hoopoe Digital, offering advanced digital services based on large-scale Wi-Fi and geolocation data.
The first cohort of the Invest IT program continues its journey in the second phase, where participants explore opportunities to attract investment and expand across regional and global markets. This reflects ITIDA and TIEC's continued commitment to supporting the entrepreneurship ecosystem and enhancing the investment readiness of Egyptian startups.
The Invest IT program stands as part of ITIDA's ongoing efforts to foster innovation, empower high-potential startups, and stimulate investment within Egypt's ICT sector—building a collaborative ecosystem that connects entrepreneurs and investors and drives digital transformation and sustainable economic growth.
