10 Top Investors in Startups in Egypt

Looking to grow your startup in Egypt? Here’s a quick guide to the top 10 investors shaping the country’s startup ecosystem. These firms have fueled sectors like fintech, e-commerce, and healthtech with funding, mentorship, and strategic support.

Key Highlights:

Flat6Labs: Over $85M invested, backing 2,000+ entrepreneurs with mentorship and funding up to $500K.
A15: Focused on early-stage tech startups, with standout investments like TPAY and Paymob.
Algebra Ventures: $144M fund supporting 21+ startups, including Sylndr and DXwand.
Sawari Ventures: Major exits include SWVL and Instabug, with a focus on North Africa.
Endure Capital: Early-stage fund with 52 investments, including Careem and NowPay.
500 Global: Backed 60+ Egyptian startups like MaxAB and MoneyFellows.
Cairo Angels: Egypt’s first angel network, investing in early-stage tech startups.
Falak Startups: 69 investments and 4 exits, focusing on seed-stage companies.
Disruptech Ventures: $36M fund targeting fintech and digital services.
Egypt Ventures: Government-backed fund supporting startups and accelerators with $306M invested.

Quick Comparison Table:

Investor	Focus Areas	Fund Size / Investments	Notable Startups	Support Offered
Flat6Labs	Early-stage, multi-sector	$85M invested	Instabug, Chefaa	Funding, mentorship, accelerators
A15	Tech startups	43 investments	TPAY, Paymob	Growth programs, funding
Algebra Ventures	Seed to Series B	$144M fund	Sylndr, DXwand	Strategic advice, scaling support
Sawari Ventures	North Africa, tech	Multi-sector investments	SWVL, Instabug	Ecosystem development, funding
Endure Capital	Early-stage, multi-sector	$27M invested	Careem, NowPay	Mentorship, long-term support
500 Global	Multi-sector	60+ startups	MaxAB, MoneyFellows	Scale-up programs, global network
Cairo Angels	Early-stage, tech	EGP 250K–2M per startup	Various startups	Due diligence, deal structuring
Falak Startups	Seed-stage, multi-sector	69 investments, 4 exits	Suplyd, Raseedi	Acceleration programs, funding
Disruptech Ventures	Fintech, digital services	$36M fund	Khazna, Brimore	Mentorship, strategic guidance
Egypt Ventures	Multi-sector	$306M invested	Accelerators, startups	Ecosystem support, funding

Egypt’s startup ecosystem is thriving, with a 37% annual growth in venture capital investments and a strong talent pool. These investors are driving innovation and scaling opportunities for founders across the country.

Cultivating Innovation and Entrepreneurship: Egyptian …

1. Flat6Labs

Flat6Labs, established in 2011 by Sawari Ventures, plays a key role in Egypt’s startup scene. With over $85 million in assets under management, the firm offers investments ranging from $50,000 to $500,000. Over the years, it has supported more than 2,000 entrepreneurs, created upwards of 8,000 jobs, and built a network of over 1,000 mentors.

Its influence is widely recognized:

“Flat6Labs is the MEA region’s leading seed and early stage venture capital firm, currently running the most renowned startup programs in the region. Annually, Flat6Labs invests in more than 100 innovative and technology-driven startups enabling thousands of passionate entrepreneurs to achieve their daring ambitions and ultimately becoming their institutional co-founders.”

Flat6Labs’ portfolio includes some impressive success stories. For example, Instabug, a bug-reporting software company, attracted clients such as Samsung, PayPal, and EA Sports before securing $1.7 million from Accel and $5 million in Series A funding. Hawaya (formerly Harmonica), a relationship-focused app, was acquired by Match Group, marking another major achievement.

The firm continues to expand its impact through specialized initiatives. In November 2024, Flat6Labs launched the InvestIT Program with ITIDA to support ICT-enabled startups. Earlier, in February 2023, its Demo Day at the Grand Egyptian Museum introduced 12 promising startups to investors and industry leaders.

Flat6Labs also backs a wide range of sectors. Chefaa, a medication delivery platform, has secured funding from 500 Startups and Vision Ventures. Meanwhile, VRapeutic, which develops virtual reality solutions for ADHD and autism treatment, won the SingularityU MENA 2019 competition with a $60,000 prize and later received a $100,000 grant from UNICEF.

Through initiatives like the Cairo Seed Program, Flat6Labs continues to support early-stage companies. The program’s most recent cycle, held from August to November 2022, further strengthened Egypt’s growing startup ecosystem.

2. A15

Established in Cairo in 1996, A15 is a venture capital firm focused on early-stage tech startups in Egypt and the MENA region. By December 2024, the firm had invested in 43 companies, becoming a prominent supporter of tech entrepreneurship and growth in the region. Their main focus lies in pre-seed and seed investments.

A15 concentrates its efforts on early-stage tech ventures, targeting areas like Enterprise Applications, Consumer, FinTech, Retail, and Artificial Intelligence. Some of their standout achievements include TPAY, the first “Dragon” exit in the MENA region, and Paymob, which raised $22 million in Series B funding in September 2024.

“We are a venture capital firm that backs daring founders on their journey to build the future.” – A15

In addition to funding, A15 actively supports startup development. In Spring 2019, the firm collaborated with AUC Venture Lab to create the “Growth IQ” program, which provides guidance on user acquisition strategies and digital media marketing. A15’s CEO, Fadi Antaki, highlighted the program’s impact:

“We see conducting “Growth IQ” program with AUC Venture Lab as an effective tool to have a collective meaningful impact in the startup ecosystem in Egypt and beyond.” – Fadi Antaki, A15’s CEO

Recent investments showcase A15’s commitment to innovation. In December 2024, they led a $1.7 million Seed round for Nowlun, an Egyptian logistics startup. They also supported FlapKap, leading a $1.2 million funding round for its AI-powered e-commerce optimization platform. Their portfolio spans various industries, including FinTech, e-commerce, digital advertising, payment solutions, and healthcare tech.

With an average of three new investments per year over the past five years, A15 continues to play a crucial role in advancing Egypt’s tech-driven startup ecosystem, addressing local market challenges and opportunities.

3. Algebra Ventures

Algebra Ventures oversees a fund of $144 million, with $54 million already invested in 21 startups and $90 million allocated for 30 more. A significant 85% of these investments focus on Egyptian startups.

The firm backs tech-driven startups from seed to Series B stages, aiming to help them scale. According to Algebra Ventures:

“Algebra Ventures is driven by a mission to empower entrepreneurs to improve people’s lives at scale.” – Algebra Ventures

Their investments span various sectors, as shown below:

Company	Funding Round	Amount	Sector
Connect Money	Seed	$8M	Embedded Finance
YoLa Fresh	Pre-Series A	$7M	Agritech
DXwand	Series A	$4M	AI Technology
Mtor	Pre-seed	$2.8M	Automotive
Sylndr	Pre-seed	$12.6M	Automotive E-commerce

Algebra Ventures doesn’t just provide funding; they also offer strategic advice, operational support, and help with team-building. They collaborate with experienced co-investors to fuel growth and create exit opportunities. Some of their recent achievements include leading Cartona’s Series A extension for its B2B e-commerce platform and heading the seed round for Efreshli, highlighting their role in advancing Egypt’s digital economy.

Their support for startups includes:

Strategic capital to support growth at different stages
Operational expertise to navigate market challenges
Help with talent acquisition to build strong teams

This comprehensive approach has made Algebra Ventures a key player in Egypt’s startup ecosystem.

4. Sawari Ventures

Sawari Ventures, based in Cairo, is a venture capital firm focused on funding technology-driven businesses across North Africa. It has supported 19 early and growth-stage companies in Egypt, Tunisia, and Morocco, with investments spanning sectors like fintech, edtech, healthtech, deeptech, logistics, and e-commerce.

The firm’s portfolio includes several standout successes. SWVL, a mass transit service, went public on Nasdaq in March 2022. KNGINE, a natural language search platform, was acquired by Samsung in 2018. Instabug, a software tools provider, serves over 25,000 corporate clients, including Verizon and Airbnb. Another highlight, Fatura, a B2B fintech marketplace, was purchased by Tanmeyah in 2022.

One of its investments, ADVA, achieved impressive growth, gaining 6,000 active users, 1,800 service providers, and seven lenders across eight industries between January 2021 and August 2022. In the edtech space, Almentor has reached 2 million users and delivered over 3 million learning experiences since 2016.

Sawari Ventures operates through two primary funds: North Africa Fund I and Egypt Fund I. It targets early and growth-stage companies, allocates resources for seed-stage opportunities, and supports ecosystem development through initiatives like Flat6Labs Cairo.

Fintech Investments

Sawari Ventures has made strategic investments in fintech, including:

Axis: Offers an open-loop wallet to expand financial access for underserved groups.
blnk: A buy-now-pay-later (BNPL) provider with a network of over 300 merchants and 60,000 customers.
Kashier: A digital payment platform helping businesses modernize their financial processes.

Deeptech Focus

In the deeptech sector, the firm supports Si-Ware, which offers material analysis solutions, and Pearl, a semiconductor company specializing in high-performance reference clocks and timing ICs.

5. Endure Capital

Endure Capital is an early-stage investment fund that has deployed $27 million across 52 startups, achieving four successful exits. The firm combines financial backing with strong mentorship to support its portfolio companies.

Investment Portfolio and Success Stories

Endure Capital’s portfolio includes notable investments:

Careem, a ride-hailing app operating in 100 cities across 13 countries.
In the fintech space, the firm co-invested $600,000 with 500 Startups in NowPay, an Egyptian company offering salary advances for employees, in September 2019.

Founder-Centric Approach

Endure Capital emphasizes long-term relationships with founders. As stated:

“We are here to serve our founders in the long-term, and want to invest in their startups’ entire lifecycle – our strategy as a firm is to provide patient, long-term support to entrepreneurs”

Ecosystem Development Initiatives

To strengthen the regional startup ecosystem, Endure Capital launched the “Endure…Pay it Forward” program. This initiative connects successful portfolio founders with aspiring entrepreneurs through mentorship.

Mohamed Noweir shared:

“There are a lot of exceptional founders in the region and we are super excited to partner with them early on in their entrepreneurial journey. And we are also thrilled to kickstart ‘Endure…Pay it Forward’ initiative where we work with our portfolio founders to mentor aspiring founders and give back to our new budding startup environment”

Investment Philosophy

Endure Capital focuses on founders dedicated to creating societal value through entrepreneurship. Tarek Fahim explained:

“Endure is committed to adding value to the region’s flourishing startup founders, and ecosystem, and we love to partner with founders that relentlessly pursue entrepreneurship as a means for value creation to society and who are building lasting businesses”

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6. 500 Global

500 Global has made a strong mark on Egypt’s startup ecosystem, investing in over 60 companies across various industries.

Investment Portfolio Highlights

Some of the standout Egyptian startups backed by 500 Global include:

MaxAB: A B2B e-commerce platform
Homzmart: A furniture marketplace
Breadfast: An online grocery delivery service
MoneyFellows: A platform for digital money circles

This portfolio showcases a commitment to supporting businesses with high growth potential.

Scale-Up Program Impact

In October 2023, 500 Global, in partnership with ITIDA, introduced its Scale-Up Program, selecting 15 promising Egyptian startups. These startups span various sectors:

Category	Selected Startups
Fintech	Blnk, NowPay, MQR
Logistics	ILLA, Khazenly
Healthcare	O7 Therapy, Rology
E-commerce	Convertedin, Dresscode, Suplyd
Mobility	FriendlyCar, Sylndr
Education	Orcas
PropTech	Birdnest
Technology	Nowlun

Program Structure and Support

The 7-week hybrid program offers tailored mentorship, growth strategies, and operational guidance. Participants also gain access to 500 Global’s extensive partner network and receive one year of free office space at Creativa Hub in Giza.

Market Impact and Vision

Amal Enan, Partner at 500 Global, highlighted the resilience of Egyptian entrepreneurs:

“Despite a challenging global and local macroeconomic backdrop, we found Egyptian founders proving that Egypt remains a thriving technology market in the Middle East and Africa”.

Dr. Hossam Othman, ITIDA Vice President, echoed this sentiment:

“Programs like Scale Up and others are important to accelerating the growth of the local startup ecosystem and boosting innovation-based entrepreneurship”.

Investment Strategy

With Egypt’s ICT sector contributing 5.8% to the nation’s GDP, 500 Global focuses on early-stage startups offering scalable solutions. Their investments target the expanding digital economy in the MENA region, with particular interest in high-growth areas like fintech, e-commerce, and healthtech. This strategy aligns with the 168% year-over-year rise in venture funding within Egypt.

7. Cairo Angels

Launched in 2012 as Egypt’s first formal angel investment network, Cairo Angels now operates under the Acasia Group, focusing on funding and supporting tech startups across the Middle East and Africa.

Investment Strategy

Cairo Angels focuses on early-stage companies in Egypt and the MENA region. Here’s an overview of their approach:

Investment Aspect	Details
Funding Range	EGP 250,000 – 2,000,000 per company
Investment Stage	Pre-Series A
Equity Structure	Minority stakes
Geographic Focus	Egypt and the MENA region
Target Companies	Early-stage tech startups

Beyond financial backing, Cairo Angels offers essential non-financial support to strengthen its portfolio companies.

Non-Financial Support

Cairo Angels provides several key services to help startups thrive:

Due Diligence: Conducts in-depth evaluations to ensure sound investment decisions.
Deal Structuring: Guides startups through negotiations and closing processes.
Portfolio Management: Offers ongoing support to help startups grow and expand within the region.

This combination of funding and expertise helps position Egypt as a growing hub for tech innovation.

Expanding Initiatives

Cairo Angels has also introduced initiatives like DarE, which focuses on AEC (Architecture, Engineering, and Construction) tech startups. Through mentorship, training, and networking, DarE reflects Cairo Angels’ commitment to fostering regional tech entrepreneurship.

8. Falak Startups

Launched in 2018, Falak Startups has made 69 investments and achieved 4 exits within Egypt’s growing startup ecosystem. Their broad investment approach highlights the variety of opportunities shaping Egypt’s tech landscape.

Investment Strategy

Falak Startups focuses on seed-stage funding, offering up to EGP 2,000,000 per startup. Their strategy is centered on four key areas:

Focus Area	Objectives
Product Development	Refining product-market fit and validation
Business Growth	Improving revenue models and operations
Market Expansion	Increasing customer base and presence
Follow-on Funding	Helping startups secure further investments

This approach ensures tailored support for tech-driven startups.

Notable Investments and Exits

Suplyd: Took part in a $1.6M pre-seed round in December 2022, alongside Alex Angels and Endure Capital.
Fincart: Invested through its Incubator/Accelerator program in September 2024.
Raseedi: Exited successfully through its acquisition by Nana in October 2024.

In addition to funding, Falak Startups accelerates growth through customized programs designed to meet startups’ needs.

Support Framework

Falak Startups runs an acceleration program that equips entrepreneurs with vital tools and connections. According to the company:

“We arm entrepreneurs with the necessary tools, resources, and networks to develop their strategies and scale up their businesses.”

Their support includes initiatives in market analysis, growth tracking, product validation, and team building. They also manage a “Virtual Stage” platform, which links startups with investors, policymakers, and potential collaborators.

9. Disruptech Ventures

Launched in 2021, Disruptech Ventures has become a key player in Egypt’s fintech sector. Backed by a $36 million fund, the firm focuses on early-stage investments in fintech and digital services startups, aiming to reshape the financial services landscape.

Investment Strategy and Focus

Disruptech Ventures provides seed funding to fintech and digital service startups, addressing Egypt’s venture capital shortage, which stands at just 25% of the emerging market average.

Investment Criteria	Details
Fund Size	$36 million
Target Companies	Up to 28 startups
Current Deployment	40% of the fund invested
Investment Stage	Seed and early-stage
Primary Focus	Fintech and fintech-enabled services

This targeted approach aims to build a portfolio that aligns with market needs and emerging opportunities.

Notable Portfolio Investments

Khazna: A Cairo-based fintech startup offering mobile financial services to over 20 million underbanked Egyptians. Disruptech invested a six-figure USD amount in 2020 to support its mission.
Brimore: A platform helping local manufacturers scale nationwide. It secured six-figure USD funding in 2020, enabling broader distribution.
Hamilton: An Egyptian-founded crypto startup tokenizing real-world assets using Bitcoin. Disruptech led its $1.7 million pre-seed round in 2025 [41, 43].

Beyond Capital: Value-Added Support

Disruptech doesn’t just provide funding. They also offer mentorship, strategic guidance, legal and technical assistance, and marketing support through their network of partner investors.

“Egypt is full of bright, talented founders but too often, they cannot secure the capital they need to expand their businesses. We are always excited about supporting entrepreneurs, increasing access to financial services, and contributing to Egypt’s growth”.

“We are happy to have Disruptech as an investor and long-term partner in Khazna. It is an industry-specialized fund that will bring significant value to the company”.

10. Egypt Ventures

Egypt Ventures plays a major role in supporting Egypt’s startup ecosystem by investing in venture capital, accelerators, and fast-growing businesses. Established in 2017 by the Ministry of Investment and International Cooperation, the firm focuses on funding initiatives that drive growth and innovation. Here’s a closer look at their investment strategy.

Investment Portfolio

Investment Category	Amount (2017-2020)	Number of Beneficiaries
Direct Investments	EGP 139.9 million	Individual startups
Indirect Investments	EGP 166.3 million	Accelerators and VCs
Total Portfolio	EGP 306.2 million	150 startups

Recent Investment Activity

In 2020, Egypt Ventures invested EGP 72.4 million across six startups and allocated EGP 31.4 million to support accelerators. Altogether, this amounted to EGP 104 million in investments.

Support Beyond Funding

Egypt Ventures extends its role beyond financial backing by:

Encouraging a thriving startup culture
Driving ecosystem development
Enhancing economic competitiveness
Bridging the gap between self-financing and traditional capital markets

“Egypt Ventures is an investment firm focused on empowering the entrepreneurial ecosystem by investing in venture capital firms, accelerators and high growth enterprises.”
– Egypt Ventures, VC4A

Strategic Vision

Ahmed Gomaa, Chairman and CEO of EFG EV, explains the firm’s goals:

“The firm aims to invest in fintech and tech startups owned by Egyptians as well as other nationalities based in Egypt, and that it is seeking through its short-term plan to provide alternative financing opportunities for Egyptian entrepreneurs, open local investment opportunities for Egyptians, establish links with experts residing abroad to transfer knowledge and experience and open doors for cooperation, in addition to supporting regional and global expansion to achieve high returns for investment.”

This vision reflects Egypt Ventures’ commitment to addressing financing gaps, supporting startups with international potential, and creating significant economic opportunities in the Egyptian market.

Investment Patterns in Egyptian Startups

The Egyptian startup scene saw notable changes in 2023–2024, reflecting a mix of challenges and opportunities. Cairo remains a major player, with its startup ecosystem valued at $8.3 billion, making it the third-largest talent hub in the MENA region.

Sector-Specific Growth

Fintech continues to lead Egypt’s startup landscape, raising $796.5 million in 2023. Meanwhile, the ICT sector has become a key contributor to the economy, now accounting for 5.8% of the GDP and driving a 26% jump in digital exports to reach $6.2 billion.

Recent Funding Trends

Period	Total Funding	YoY Change	Notable Trends
H1 2022	$300M	+106%	Peak funding
Nov 2022	$42M	-63%	Sharp decline from October
H1 2024	$83M	-80%	Market adjustment

These numbers highlight shifting priorities among investors and changing market dynamics:

Local Investor Growth: Unique local investors in Egypt grew by 82% year-over-year during H1 2024, signaling increased domestic confidence.
Sector Diversification: While fintech secured $39 million in funding during H1 2024, the IT Solutions sector showed resilience with a 100% rise in funding.

Market Position and Regional Context

Egypt continues to solidify its role as a key player in the region. The ecosystem has shown resilience through:

A 15% drop in deal numbers, which is relatively mild despite funding declines.
Growth in smaller deals, with non-MEGA deals increasing by 6% year-over-year.
Accounting for 22% of Africa’s total funding in H1 2024.

Economic Factors

Macroeconomic challenges have left their mark. The Egyptian pound has lost over 50% of its value since March 2022. To counterbalance this, the government has introduced measures such as tax breaks for businesses earning under $311,000 annually, aimed at encouraging further growth in the startup sector.

Conclusion

Egypt’s startup scene has seen rapid growth, with over 160 venture capital firms involved in more than 800 deals between 2019 and 2023. This surge has turned Egypt into a thriving tech hub worth over $8 billion and employing more than 50,000 people.

Investors play a key role by providing mentorship and networking through programs like Flat6Labs’ specialized accelerators and Falak Startups’ Fintech Tracks. Thanks to these efforts, Egypt now accounts for 22% of all venture capital deals in Africa, solidifying its position as a leader in the region.

Looking ahead, new policies and investor initiatives are set to keep this momentum going. Starting in January 2025, tech companies will benefit from tax breaks lasting 3–5 years. Coupled with a 37% compound annual growth rate in venture capital investments over the past five years, the ecosystem is poised for even greater expansion.

“The most active investors in Egypt, purely based on the number of deals, are primarily local”, says Ashok Raman.

This ongoing support underscores Egypt’s growing importance as a hub for innovation and entrepreneurship in the MENA region. Investors remain a critical part of nurturing the next wave of startups in the country.

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