Gainz, a leading fintech platform bridging the SME financing gap across the MENA region, announced today its strategic partnership with Cassbana, a regional embedded finance and digital lending platform that powers trade finance for micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs). This collaboration will unlock new financing opportunities for MSMEs across the GCC enabling them to access fast, Shariah-compliant funding through Gainz’s alternative credit infrastructure and Cassbana’s technology-driven distribution network. Together, the two companies are building a smarter, more inclusive financial ecosystem that allows small businesses to grow, trade, and thrive with confidence. “Our partnership with Cassbana aligns perfectly with our…
Author: Mohamed Fathy
Egypt Innovation Week 2025 concluded successfully, spanning from September 26 to October 6 across Cairo, Alexandria, and 25+ community events nationwide, welcoming over 50,000 participants, 750+ speakers from 70+ countries, and showcasing 150+ exhibitors and 1,500+ startups. Annual Investors Congress The initiative kicked off with the Annual Investors Congress gathering over 150 investors from the USA, MENA, and Europe. The congress featured over 50+ strategic one-on-one meetings between limited partners (LPs), general partners (GPs), and ecosystem leaders, culminating in the Investors Forum at the Swedish Embassy in Cairo where international delegates discussed partnerships and investment opportunities. Prominent investors participated in…
In a landmark move that reflects both vision and responsibility, SEKEM has announced the extension of health insurance coverage to 40,000 farmers across its community. This step not only safeguards the wellbeing of thousands of individuals who form the backbone of Egypt’s agricultural sector, but also reinforces SEKEM’s commitment to advancing its mission through meaningful impact across its three foundational pillars: economic, social, and cultural development. Ambitious initiative This ambitious initiative is being carried out through Ecohealth in Cooperation with EBDA (Egyptian Biodynamic Assoziation), SEKEM’s dedicated health arm, and digitally enabled by the Nice Deer Platform, Egypt’s leading InsurTech solution.…
In one of the most impactful collaborations shaping the region’s youth empowerment landscape, Sprints, the AI-powered EdTech innovator, partnered with Microsoft Ambassadors to deliver a fully-funded, career-transforming tech-equipping and upskilling learning experience under the Sprints x Microsoft Summer Camp initiative — and the results have been extraordinary. In just two months, the initiative attracted 35,000+ applicants, with thousands of youth successfully completing immersive, hands-on training that equipped them with future-ready technology skills and the confidence to excel in the digital economy. The program delivered 10 specialized learning tracks: DevOps, Web Development, Software Testing, Programming using Python, AI & Machine Learning,…
Entlaq announced the launch of its new platform “Arqam”, the first fully integrated Egyptian platform for data analytics and market intelligence, designed to reshape the national economic landscape. The platform aims to provide advanced tools for data visualization, analysis, and reporting—enhancing decision-makers’ ability to build policies and business plans grounded in reliable data. Egypt’s economic transformation Arqam aspires to become a primary driver of Egypt’s economic transformation by making high-quality data accessible in a simple and flexible manner, thereby contributing to national growth, job creation, investment attraction, and improved governance. The platform’s mission is built on the principle that accurate…
The third edition of the Entlaq Summit officially launched today in El Gouna to announce the Egyptian Entrepreneurship Sector Diagnostic Report (SDR 2025). The event is held under the auspices of the Ministerial Group for Entrepreneurship, the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade, the Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities, the Egyptian Tourism Promotion Authority, and in partnership with several leading institutions supporting the ecosystem. Egypt Startup Charter Her Excellency Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development, and International Cooperation, delivered a speech through a recorder video, emphasizing that the Egypt…
MNT-Halan, the leading and fastest-growing fintech platform in Egypt and the MENA region, has launched Egypt’s first secured lending solution offered by a non-banking financial institution. The new service enables customers to instantly access up to 80% of their investments in funds through a fully digital journey on the Halan App. Major Milestone This marks a major milestone in Egypt’s non-banking sector, offering customers liquidity without interrupting the growth of their investments. Through an end-to-end digital experience (eKYC) from onboarding and investing to credit limit activation, customers can unlock an instant credit limit of up to EGP 500,000 on their…
Entlaq today announced the launch of the third edition of the Egyptian Entrepreneurship Sector Diagnostic Report (SDR 2025), taking place from 25 to 26 September 2025 in El Gouna, the fully integrated coastal town by Orascom Development. The high-level summit is organized under the patronage of the Ministerial Committee for Entrepreneurship, the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, and the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade. Abu Tig Marina This year’s edition will be hosted at Abu Tig Marina in El Gouna. It will also mark the launch of the town’s newest venue, Abu Tig Island, a distinctive…
Erad, the Riyadh-headquartered alternative financing platform for SMEs, has raised $33 million in debt financing to expand its operations in Saudi Arabia and the rest of the GCC. The round was led by Stride Ventures, which has recently doubled its team size in the region and also achieved the first close of its landmark ADGM Fund V, alongside participation from other investors. Grow Erad’s Presence This new round strengthens erad’s mission to close the region’s $250 billion SME credit gapby providing fast and flexible Shariah-compliant financing solutions and make growth financing accessible for GCC businesses. The funding round, which was…
DevisionX, a provider of advanced AI software and solutions, today announced a strategic partnership with NtegralOne, a company specialized in AI hardware computing solutions, to deliver comprehensive end-to-end AI solutions across Egypt’s key industry sectors. The collaboration addresses critical market challenges where organizations want to implement AI solutions but face barriers including hardware compatibility and deployment complexity. The partnership targets Egypt’s government, banking and finance, telecommunications, healthcare and insurance, oil and gas, and education sectors, with specialized focus on university AI laboratories. The alliance emphasizes on-premise solutions, which are crucial for these sectors due to stringent data privacy and security…
EdVentures, the corporate venture capital arm of Nahdet Misr Group and the region’s leading Edtech focused CVC, has announced a strategic investment in LRNOVA, a cutting-edge startup harnessing the power of artificial intelligence to transform how educational content is created. Digital Innovation This investment was made through the EdTech Venture Studio (EDVS) program, launched by EdVentures in partnership with the Challenge Fund for Youth Employment (CFYE). The program is designed to foster digital innovation, empower youth, and generate new employment opportunities within Egypt’s growing EdTech ecosystem. LRNOVA’s platform enables organizations and individuals to transform traditional curricula and training materials into…
Marking its 4th year of operations in Egypt, DiDi reaffirmed its commitment to drivers and the community by hosting a vibrant event honoring the outstanding achievements of its top-performing captains. Over this period, DiDi has expanded its footprint in the Egyptian market, reaching a total of over 10 million users across both riders and drivers. Valuable Prizes The ceremony brought together more than 200 attendees, including drivers and their families, media representatives, and DiDi Egypt leadership. In recognition of their dedication and service, DiDi Egypt presented top drivers with valuable prizes as a gesture of appreciation. Speaking at the event,…
Lean Technologies, MENA’s leading Financial Infrastructure provider, has partnered with Synapse Analytics, the region’s AI-native Risk Decisioning Platform, to launch an end-to-end Credit Decisioning and Analytics platform for lenders across Saudi, the UAE and the wider GCC. The Partnership At the heart of the partnership is a new decisioning stack that fuses Lean’s Open Banking data infrastructure with Synapse’s AI-native credit decisioning platform, enabling banks, fintechs, and lenders to: Instantly access and enrich real-time financial data as alternative credit signals. Combine bureau data with cashflow-based insights to underwrite new segments. Deploy Auto-AI/ML models alongside existing credit policies. Build, test, and…
In a strategic move signaling its regional ambitions, Egyptian edtech startup Farid Academy has announced its expansion into Saudi Arabia, establishing a central operations office in Riyadh. The launch marks a pivotal step in the company’s plan to anchor its presence in key Arab markets, ahead of a forthcoming seed funding round slated for Q4 2025. The startup previously secured $250,000 in pre-seed funding last year. Founded in 2024 by entrepreneur Mahmoud Hussein, Farid Academy leverages his background in education and personal development to deliver innovative learning solutions aimed at enhancing children’s well-being and character growth. The platform is the…
HALA, Saudi Arabia’s leading fintech and provider of embedded financial services to micro, small and medium enterprises, has raised $157 million in a Series B investment round — officially one of the largest fintech Series B funding rounds in the Middle East. Investors The funding round is led by The Rise Fund, TPG’s multi-sector global impact investing strategy, and Sanabil Investments, a wholly owned company by the Public Investment Fund (PIF), with participation from QED, Raed Ventures, Impact 46, Middle East Venture Partners (MEVP), Isometry Capital, Arzan VC, BNVT Capital, Kaltaire Investments, Endeavor Catalyst, Nour Nouf Ventures, Khwarizmi Ventures, and…
Tactful AI, a leading provider of AI-powered customer experience solutions, announced today the appointment of Egyptian entrepreneur and investor Mohamed Aboulnaga Nagaty as both investor and strategic advisor to the company’s CEO. The move marks a pivotal step in Tactful AI’s ambition to scale its regional and global footprint and accelerate technological innovation across the Middle East. Success Stories Nagaty’s decision to join Tactful AI followed a close review of the company’s success stories with several businesses he knows personally. He cited the platform’s tangible impact on operational efficiency, digital sales growth, and unprecedented levels of customer satisfaction as key…
Property Finder, a leading property portal in the Middle East and North Africa, today announced a combined total investment of $525 million in the Company led by funds advised by Permira. Funds managed by Blackstone Growth are investing significant capital into the transaction. The combined investment represents a meaningful minority stake and reaffirms Property Finder’s position as a market leader and technology innovator in MENA’s fast-growing property classifieds market. The Transaction As part of the transaction, General Atlantic, which has been a cornerstone shareholder of Property Finder since 2018, has sold part of its stake while retaining a significant minority…
Shahbandr, the e-commerce enabler in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East and North Africa, has launched “Shahbandr AI”, the region’s first Generative AI Kit fully integrated into e-commerce stores. Shahbandr AI “Shahbandr AI” offers a diverse set of tools to empower store owners generate images, videos, audio, marketing copy, and content for products and search engines. The suite features a full, seamless Arabic interface and is available at no cost to stores using Shahbandr platform. The company aims to empower merchants to keep pace with global AI advancements without needing to subscribe to multiple platforms for ideas and growth-driving content.…
Intella, the market leader in dialectal Arabic speech intelligence, today announced it has closed $12.5 million in an oversubscribed Series A round led by Prosus, with participation from 500 Global, Wa’ed Ventures, Hala Ventures, Idrisi Ventures and HearstLab, the investment arm of Hearst Corporation. Intella’s Mission The funding will accelerate Intella’s mission to power a digital AI workforce across the Arabic-speaking world. With this new funding, Intella is doubling down on R&D, product expansion, and regional hiring to bring its vision to life. Founded in 2021 by CEO Nour Taher and CTO Omar Mansour, Intella has emerged as a clear…
Seraya, a Dubai-based proptech and hospitality startup, has secured $1.8 million in seed funding through a mix of equity and debt, bringing its total capital raised to $2.15 million. The round was led by a prominent Saudi family office and DLL, a German family office, with additional participation from strategic angel investors. Fully Serviced Apartments Founded in October 2024 by Pepijn Haima and Ibrahim Shami, Seraya offers design-led, fully serviced apartments for short-term stays, combining the consistency of a hotel with the warmth of a home. The company has been profitable since inception, operating with an average occupancy of 92%…