The Minister of Communications and Information Technology Amr Talaat has attended the launch of Aswan Bootcamp Series at Creativa Innovation Hub in Aswan. The program is co-implemented by the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) and Plug and Play, a globally renowned leader in empowering and accelerating startup growth.
Aswan Bootcamp Series aims to nurture young innovators and cultivate a thriving innovative and entrepreneurial ecosystem by providing comprehensive support to tech startups in Upper Egypt, helping them refine their products, enhance their investment attractiveness, and secure funding.
In this context, the ICT Minister witnessed the signing of an MoU between ITIDA and Plug and Play to implement the program. It was signed by the CEO of the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) Ahmed Elzaher and the Country Director for Egypt at Plug and Play Tech Center Karima El Hakim, in the presence of the Deputy Mission Director of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) Ritu Tariyal, along with her accompanying delegation.
The program is designed to support and empower 60 tech startups in Upper Egypt through five bootcamps. Participating companies will receive strategic guidance, technical mentorship, and access to global investment networks, boosting their investment readiness and equipping them for expansion and growth, thus enabling them to compete effectively in the local and regional markets.
In his remarks, Talaat explained that the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) is establishing a Creativa Innovation Hub in each governorate to create an environment conducive to digital innovation and entrepreneurship. He highlighted that the project has prioritized setting up hubs across the governorates, with a particular focus on Upper Egypt.
Talaat commended the strong engagement from Aswan’s youth to join programs of Creativa Innovation Hub in Aswan. He also praised the hub’s achievements in terms of the number of participating companies and the diversity of training programs aimed at promoting entrepreneurship, enhancing digital skills, and preparing youth for freelance careers. This milestone was not accidental but the result of diligent work, knowledge, training, and determination, Talaat emphasized. He noted that universities were selected as hosts for Creativa Innovation Hubs to ensure accessibility for young people.
In addition, Talaat referred to the partnership between MCIT and Plug and Play to run Creativa Innovation Hub in Cairo, enabling startups to attract investment and compete in regional and international markets. He underscored that the program will expand to Aswan, offering specialized training to 60 tech startups to support their growth and equip them with essential skills in target market identification, competitive analysis, customer outreach, and product pricing. He underlined MCIT commitment to fostering ongoing collaboration with leading multinationals to leverage their expertise in supporting and empowering entrepreneurs, freelancers, and participants in the Ministry’s training programs.
For his part, Elzaher said that ITIDA is proud of its contributions to the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Aswan through Creativa Innovation Hub since its inception. He clarified that the Agency has delivered diverse services to over 9,000 youth, entrepreneurs, and teams, resulting in 52 startups securing investments totaling approximately EGP 75 million.
Elzaher noted that ITIDA is entering a new phase of success and partnership with Plug and Play, a leading global venture capital and open innovation platform, coinciding with the launch of Aswan Bootcamp Series. This unique program is designed to boost the entrepreneurial ecosystem and create new job opportunities in Upper Egypt. He emphasized the Agency’s belief in the immense potential of Upper Egypt’s young and innovative entrepreneurs, reaffirming its unwavering commitment to supporting and empowering them to transform their ideas into successful, globally competitive ventures.
El Hakim stated that Plug and Play has extensive global expertise in supporting innovation and entrepreneurship and is dedicated to equipping startups with the essential tools and knowledge needed for growth and expansion. She added that the program offers participants a unique opportunity to benefit from hands-on guidance, along with continuous support from a team of experts and mentors.
The program, she added, will contribute to developing a comprehensive entrepreneurial ecosystem in Upper Egypt, focusing on sustainability and scalability, in collaboration with the company’s partners from the public and private sectors, including USAID. She underscored that the company’s goal is to build a robust system that supports entrepreneurship, attracts investment, and fosters innovation.
The criteria for selecting participants in the innovation bootcamps have been meticulously crafted to leverage the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Upper Egypt. Focusing on startups that have launched their prototypes and have a clear vision for growth, the program targets ambitious entrepreneurs and startups offering innovative solutions across vital sectors, including AgriTech, healthcare, e-commerce, tourism, climate tech, and sustainability, contributing to driving economic growth and fostering innovation in Upper Egypt. Moreover, priority will be given to projects that create a positive impact and offer innovative solutions to local challenges, and are led by entrepreneurs showing a strong commitment to continuous learning and professional development.
In a similar vein, the ICT Minister visited Creativa Innovation Hub in Aswan to explore its activities and training programs. He was accompanied by the Director of the National Telecommunication Institute (NTI) Ahmed Khattab.
Talaat also held a roundtable session with several entrepreneurs, including founders and representatives of tech startups participating in the program from various governorates in Upper Egypt. The session was attended by Elzaher and El Hakim.
During the session, the entrepreneurs showcased their projects, covering several areas. One project focused on providing digital identity verification solutions, developed by Egyptian experts and implemented in six countries across the Middle East and Africa. Other notable projects encompass a mobile app offering digital services connecting professionals, craftsmen, and customers; a project for recycling and converting agricultural waste into biofuel for export to European markets; a digital recruitment platform; enterprise network management systems; a platform that connect entrepreneurs with experts, business consultants, and a network of 1,200 mentors from 23 countries; biotech solutions; a mobile app linking grocery stores with manufacturers; an e-payment platform; a food delivery app; an online multi-trainer educational platform; e-commerce solutions; and an app for shipping and delivery services.
The ICT Minister praised the outstanding quality and diversity of the tech solutions presented by the entrepreneurs, highlighting their strong ability to market their ventures, which instills confidence in these companies’ potential for growth and success. Talaat noted that MCIT collaborates with the Ministry of Finance to provide additional support through a comprehensive package for entrepreneurs and startups. He emphasized his commitment to monitoring the program’s progress to ensure optimal outcomes and maximize its benefits.
In addition, Talaat met with several beneficiaries and graduates of Creativa Innovation Hub in Aswan. They shared how the training programs they received at the hub played a pivotal role in advancing their professional careers, qualifying them to join the global freelance market and work remotely for multinationals while remaining in Aswan.
The ICT Minister listened to the youth’s inquiries and suggestions. He outlined MCIT training programs tailored for various age groups nationwide, starting as early as eight years old. The training programs are designed to build a comprehensive skill set to prepare young freelancers to join the job market, the ICT Minister pointed out. He referred to the Mahara-Tech platform, which offers a wide range of online courses in various tech fields.
It is worth noting that President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi opened Creativa Innovation Hub in Aswan, marking one of eight hubs established as part of a nationwide initiative. The establishment of this hub is part of MCIT strategic plan to expand the establishment of Creativa Innovation Hubs across different governorates. So far, 23 hubs have been established in 19 governorates, with plans to reach 32 hubs.
The support offered to startups at the Hub in Aswan includes entrepreneurship programs engaging more than 3,200 entrepreneurs, along with incubation and business acceleration services for startups and innovative projects, helping entrepreneurs scale and expand their ventures. The hub also offers services to support freelancers, benefiting around 2,200 individuals, alongside professional development programs that assisted in upskilling and boosting the employment prospects of 600 beneficiaries. Additionally, specialized training programs have been provided to 3,600 individuals, aimed at developing a qualified talent pool capable of competing in the local and global job markets.
More than 150 startup teams in the idea stage have been supported, receiving the necessary guidance to develop their ideas into successful businesses. A total of 35 teams have advanced to the prototype stage, while 55 have participated in acceleration programs to drive growth and expansion.
