ITIDA and USAID partner with Global Venture Capital and Open Innovation Platform Plug and Play Tech Center to launch Aswan Bootcamp Series to Empower Upper Egypt Startups
Plug and Play, the world’s global innovation and venture capital platform, announced the launch of its Aswan Bootcamp Series in partnership with USAID-EGA (Economic Governance Activity). Supported by ITIDA and the Creativa Innovation Hubs, this initiative is designed to empower 60 tech-enabled startups in Upper Egypt, driving regional innovation and fostering sustainable growth across Egypt.
The Aswan Bootcamp Series builds on the company’s flagship program in Cairo, specifically tailored to unlock Upper Egypt’s potential as a rising tech hub. Dedicated to fostering innovation, economic development, and a robust startup ecosystem in the region by nurturing an investment-ready mindset and equipping entrepreneurs with strategies for market development, financial management, product-market fit, and scalability.
The entrepreneurial ecosystem in Upper Egypt, particularly in Aswan, has grown in recent years due to the collaborative efforts of local universities, NGOs, government initiatives, and international organizations. While these stakeholders have made progress in fostering innovation and supporting local startups, the ecosystem still encounters barriers in terms of development and local/regional exposure. Aswan’s ecosystem remains nascent, and many startups in the region have limited access to the same resources, networks, and market opportunities that are more accessible in Cairo.
Aswan, known for its rich cultural heritage and economic potential in agriculture and tourism, offers an ideal environment for innovation. With support from local universities, NGOs, and government initiatives, Aswan’s nascent startup ecosystem is evolving, yet barriers remain in accessing resources and market opportunities more prevalent in Cairo. The Aswan Bootcamp Series will help bridge these gaps, positioning Aswan as a regional tech hub.
The program officially kicked off on November 19th at the Aswan Creativa Innovation Hub, with the attendance of H.E. Amr Talaat, Egypt’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology, Dr. Ahmed Elzaher, CEO of ITIDA, and Ritu Tariyal, Deputy Mission Director of USAID in Egypt. The event, held at the Creativa Innovation Hub in Aswan, also marked the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between ITIDA and Plug and Play Egypt to execute this program, underscoring a shared commitment to empowering Upper Egypt’s entrepreneurs. Deputy Mission Director to USAID Egypt, Ritu Tariyal attended the launch. USAID Mission Director in Egypt, Sean Jones commented saying:
“USAID is thrilled to be partnering once again with ITIDA to expand the Plug and Play program to the Aswan CREATIVA Innovation Hub. This new venture will bring world-class mentorship, coaching, and investment networking opportunities to Upper Egypt, making entrepreneurship more accessible and inclusive.”
“Upper Egypt represents a scalable market and a wealth of talent. We are aware and confident about the opportunities it offers—not only as a VC but also an enabler,” said Karima El Hakim, Country Director for Egypt at Plug and Play Tech Center. “Supporting the founders of this emerging ecosystem by providing hands-on guidance, essential tools, and meaningful business and funding opportunities has always been a goal of ours, especially following our success with our Smart Cities Accelerator located in Cairo. We are equally committed to empowering Upper Egypt’s enablers through knowledge transfer and access to Plug and Play’s extensive network, helping them drive accelerated growth. Our ambition is to build stronger, longer bridges from Aswan to the rest of the world—without needing a pitstop in the capital.”
“We would also like to express our gratitude to ITIDA and USAID for their trust and partnership, which has enabled us to expand our footprint nationwide. Their support has been instrumental in our mission to unlock potential across Egypt, empowering entrepreneurs and fostering sustainable growth in new regions.”
The Aswan Bootcamp Series comprises five eight-day in-person bootcamps that will guide tech-enabled startups through workshops and one-on-one mentoring sessions with experienced mentors and founders. The program targets startups in sectors such as agri-tech, health-tech, e-commerce, gov-tech, and tourism. Leveraging Plug and Play’s global network of experts to support participants in key areas including financial management, product-market fit, scalability, and commercialization. More than 60 startups are expected to gain the skills and knowledge needed for sustained growth and good governance.
Following the bootcamp, founders will benefit from continued mentorship and networking opportunities with potential investors and experienced mentors. They will also gain exposure to Cairo’s established entrepreneurial ecosystem, helping them build a network that could lead to future collaborations and essential resources.
The Aswan bootcamp series is an initiative aiming to position Aswan as a rising tech hub in Upper Egypt, leveraging the city’s cultural and historical backdrop to create a platform for global engagement. A flagship event during the series will showcase innovative solutions to regional challenges and highlight Aswan’s potential as a key player in the global tech ecosystem. The program will also cover the promotion of entrepreneurship and innovation to the youth of Upper Egypt, with a hackathon aimed at university students, recent graduates, and young adults between the ages of 18 and 35 will have an opportunity to learn and network within a supportive environment. Additionally, The program will also focus on knowledge transfer to the local ecosystem, with local enablers shadowing the bootcamps and gaining insights into the program’s methodology and structure to sustain similar programs in the future.
To learn more about the program and apply, please visit:
https://www.plugandplaytechcenter.com/innovation-services/challenge-offerings/aswan-bootcamp-series
About ITIDA
The Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) is the executive arm of the Egyptian Ministry of Communications and Information Technology for spearheading the development of IT in Egypt. It is Egypt’s engine for spreading technology, driving innovation, and supporting foreign investors seeking to enhance their global offering from Egypt, the global hub for IT/ITES and technology innovation.
About USAID/Egypt Economic Governance Activity (EGA)
The Economic Governance Activity, a USAID funded project, is part of the bilateral agreement between the Government of Egypt (GoE) and the United States on inclusive economic governance (Grant Agreement no. 263-306 signed on September 30, 2019, and issued through Presidential decree no. 643 for 2020). EGA is a five-year activity (2020-2025) which DAI Global LLC implements. EGA supports the investment climate in Egypt through enhancing economic governance and promoting administrative and institutional development in line with Egypt’s Sustainable Development Strategy (SDS) 2030; the National Anti-Corruption Strategy; and the Administrative Reform Vision of Egypt. In doing so, the project supports the efforts of GoE to enhance the quality of public administration through adopting more inclusive and efficient tools that reflect the needs and priorities of citizens and the private sector, thus promoting a favorable investment climate in Egypt.
About Plug and Play
Plug and Play is the leading innovation platform, connecting startups, corporations, venture capital firms, universities, and government agencies. Headquartered in Silicon Valley, we’re present in 60+ locations across 5 continents. We offer corporate innovation programs and help our corporate partners in every stage of their innovation journey, from education to execution. We also organize startup acceleration programs and have built an in-house VC to drive innovation across multiple industries where we’ve invested in hundreds of successful companies including Dropbox, Guardant Health, Honey, Lending Club, N26, PayPal, and Rappi. For more information, visit Plug and Play Tech Center