ITIDA and 500 Global Mark Three Years of Collaboration

Egypt’s technology startup ecosystem is entering a more mature and performance-driven phase, shaped increasingly by strong institutional partnerships that translate local talent into globally scalable businesses.

A key contributor to this evolution is the three-year collaboration between the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) and global venture capital firm 500 Global. The partnership has played a pivotal role in strengthening Egypt’s entrepreneurship landscape by embedding global best practices, expanding accelerator capacity, and supporting startups across multiple stages of growth.

Speaking during a panel discussion marking the three-year milestone, ITIDA CEO Eng. Ahmed Elzaher said the agency remains focused on accelerating the growth of Egypt’s technology sector by supporting local and international IT companies, expanding digital services and offshoring exports, and positioning startups as a cornerstone of sustainable innovation. He added that freelancers continue to be a vital pillar of the digital economy, while Egypt’s deep pool of digital talent remains its strongest regional competitive advantage.

Elzaher joined Bedy Yang, Managing Partner at 500 Global, and Amal Enan, Partner at 500 Global Egypt, to reflect on the partnership’s outcomes. He noted that its success has been driven by clearly defined performance metrics, mutual trust, and the alignment of complementary capabilities—enabling the delivery of high-impact programs and the systematic transfer of global accelerator and investment expertise into Egypt’s startup ecosystem.

One of the flagship outcomes of the collaboration is the Bootcamp for Accelerator Managers (BAM), which Elzaher described as a scalable model for ecosystem development. Through BAM, 500 Global transferred its accelerator design and management expertise to a wide base of Egyptian accelerators, extending the partnership’s impact beyond startups directly supported by the firm.

The initiative aligns with ITIDA’s broader strategy to build an integrated and sustainable entrepreneurship ecosystem through partnerships with leading global accelerators and investment funds. The objective, Elzaher said, is to enable Egyptian entrepreneurs to transform innovative ideas into companies capable of scaling locally, regionally, and globally.

Central to this approach is ITIDA’s nationwide network of Creativa Innovation Hubs, which aims to decentralize entrepreneurial growth beyond Cairo and connect talent across Egypt’s governorates with market-ready opportunities.

The event also highlighted tangible business outcomes achieved by startups that participated in the partnership’s programs over the past three years.

Entrepreneurs took part in nine cohorts of the 500 Global Egypt Seed Bootcamp and Scale Up programs, involving more than 380 founders representing 197 startups. Collectively, these startups secured $6 million in direct investment during the programs and raised more than $54 million in follow-on funding. The portfolio also recorded two successful exits, attracted $1.3 million in grants and awards, and created over 1,300 full-time jobs.

Panel discussions featured startups at various growth stages and across multiple sectors, including Rahet Bally, ILLA, Dayra, Amanleek, El Gameya, Blnk, Settle, and Bluworks. Other sessions spotlighted companies that expanded regionally and internationally—such as Khazenly, Nowlun, and Enza—as well as founders who completed exits or mergers, including Orcas, Hatla2ee, and WRK+.

The BAM program’s ecosystem-wide impact was also underscored. More than 125 accelerator managers and senior team members from over 55 accelerators nationwide participated in the initiative. Follow-up assessments showed that 63% of participants advanced into higher-impact leadership roles, 56% developed clearer and more competitive accelerator strategies, and 51% improved the quality of programs delivered to startups. Notably, 40% achieved measurable gains in key performance indicators, reflecting a shift from training to operational and economic impact.

Elzaher said the next phase of the partnership will place greater emphasis on deep tech—particularly artificial intelligence—alongside more specialized programs focused on improving investment readiness and supporting international expansion. He also expressed ambitions to extend 500 Global-led initiatives further beyond Cairo by leveraging ITIDA’s Creativa Innovation Hubs to unlock innovation driven by local challenges with global market potential.

Bedy Yang, Managing Partner at 500 Global, said the firm’s mission is to empower entrepreneurs worldwide through a global innovation and knowledge-transfer network.

“In Egypt, our partnership with the government has created clear added value for both sides, and the results have exceeded expectations,” she said.

Yang noted that while Egypt has a rich talent pool, founders and accelerator managers need access to mentorship, education, and global networks to unlock their full potential.

“We believe Egyptian startups are capable of producing advanced technological solutions, including in AI, and we have already invested in some of these companies, including those outside Cairo. We appreciate the flexibility and openness of the Egyptian government and are proud that this partnership has met and exceeded its objectives.”