Egypt’s Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA), through its Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center (TIEC), has kicked off the 47th cohort of its flagship incubation program, Start IT—this time with expanded funding, bigger perks, and stronger cloud infrastructure support.
What is Start IT?
Start IT is a one-year incubation program designed for early-stage entrepreneurs with ICT-based ideas or prototypes. Its mission is clear:
- ✅ Help startups evolve into scalable, investment-ready businesses.
- ✅ Provide both financial and in-kind support.
- ✅ Build a robust pipeline of tech ventures driving Egypt’s digital economy.
Over the years, Start IT has become a launchpad for young innovators, aligning with ITIDA’s goal of fostering a sustainable, youth-driven entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Networking, Collaboration, and Knowledge Sharing
The program’s kickoff event brought together the eight newly incubated startups with alumni from previous rounds. The goal:
- Encourage peer-to-peer learning.
- Enable cross-collaboration.
- Share real-world insights from founders who’ve navigated the journey before.
Introducing “Start IT Perks”
In a major upgrade, ITIDA unveiled Start IT Perks—an exclusive benefits platform offering discounted access to premium digital tools and services. Through partnerships with local enablers like Talents Arena, Sprints, The WhiteGuard, Qayedeny, Camion, Techie Matter, DevisionX, and Zurqa, startups gain:
- Reduced operational costs.
- Faster scaling potential.
- Access to top-tier tech infrastructure and professional services.
Bigger Financial Support
ITIDA announced a substantial increase in the incubation package—EGP 480K per startup, up from EGP 180K. The funding covers both cash grants and in-kind services, enabling startups to hit critical growth milestones without the immediate pressure of raising outside capital.
More Cloud Firepower
Support from Amazon Web Services (AWS) has also doubled. Each startup now receives USD 10,000 in AWS cloud credits, providing access to enterprise-grade infrastructure and advanced cloud tools to accelerate development and deployment.
The 8 Startups to Watch
The new cohort spans healthcare, education, logistics, sports, and e-commerce, showcasing Egypt’s rising tech diversity:
- ✅ Cluster – Health-tech platform streamlining pharmaceutical supply chains.
- ✅ Mystery Bag – Smart redistribution system tackling food waste and unsold inventory.
- ✅ Converse2Note – AI-driven tool converting doctor-patient conversations into coded medical reports.
- ✅ Coccarohome – Marketplace connecting women artisans with home décor buyers.
- ✅ Sportyano – Platform for sports talent discovery, academy management, and contract facilitation.
- ✅ LRNOVA – AI-powered tools for creating high-quality educational content.
- ✅ TANKER – Digital fuel management system for logistics fleets.
- ✅ eDariba – Digital tax compliance platform for SMEs and freelancers.