Marketplace

The ICSB Marketplace is a launchpad for startups and small businesses ready to grow. Located in the heart of the conference, this dynamic space connects entrepreneurs with investors, mentors, and the tools they need to scale their businesses. From tech innovation to funding strategy, the Marketplace is where vision meets opportunity.

Egypt at the Forefront: A Rising Hub for Entrepreneurship and Innovation

Egypt is rapidly gaining recognition as one of the most dynamic entrepreneurship ecosystems in the Middle East and Africa. With a growing network of incubators, accelerators, and policy support, as well as a surge in women-led startups, the country is setting a new benchmark for inclusive and sustainable innovation.

As Egypt prepares to host the ICSB World Congress in Cairo from November 25 to 27, this moment presents an opportunity to reflect on the remarkable entrepreneurial momentum that is shaping the country’s future.

A Booming Startup Ecosystem

Across Cairo, Alexandria, and beyond, more than 30 incubators and accelerators are nurturing startups in tech, fintech, education, energy, and healthcare. Leading programs such as Flat6Labs, Falak Startups, Plug and Play Egypt, and EFG EV Fintech offer funding, mentorship, and international linkages. Meanwhile, platforms like StartEgypt and icealex focus on early-stage social and impact-driven entrepreneurs.

While the ecosystem is gaining strength, reports by XYZ Lab and Failory highlight ongoing challenges, including limited access for rural entrepreneurs and underrepresentation in emerging sectors.

Policy Momentum and Ecosystem Building

According to the OECD’s 2025 SME and Entrepreneurship Policy Review, Egypt has made considerable progress in supporting entrepreneurship through improved access to finance, business development services, inclusive policies, and skills upgrading. Yet, the report urges better coordination, monitoring, and regional outreach to scale these programs more equitably.

These insights align with the work of Dr. Norris Krueger, a global expert and ICSB Board member, on entrepreneurial ecosystems, who emphasizes that healthy ecosystems require more than individual success stories—they thrive when networks, institutions, and culture work together cohesively. Egypt’s evolving support infrastructure reflects the early signs of ecosystem-level thinking, but the journey toward full ecosystem maturity requires sustained collaboration across sectors.