
Egyptian startups secure $228mln in funding in 5 months
This represents a 130% increase over the same period in 2024.
The group reported 16 deals executed during the first five months of the year, 11 of which involved investments totaling $156 million.
Additionally, two startups, Nawy and MNT-Halan, secured substantial debt financing, receiving $23 million and $49 million, respectively.
In addition to funding, Egypt's startup sector has seen notable exit and acquisition activity, including Dubizzle's acquisition of the online car trading platform Hatla2ee and MaxAB-Wasoko's acquisition of Fatora.
The proptech sector led in terms of investment volume, contributing to 33% of total funding, while the fintech sector dominated in deal volume with five transactions, accounting for 32% of the total investment.
© 2020-2023 Arab Finance For Information Technology. All Rights Reserved. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (Syndigate.info).
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Gulf Business
3 hours ago
- Gulf Business
Google's AI mode lands in MENA: Here's what users can expect
Image credit: Supplied Google has begun rolling out its most advanced AI-powered search experience, dubbed 'AI Mode,' across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region. The feature, launching initially in English, will be available to all users gradually over the next few days. Read- AI Mode represents a significant leap in search capabilities, integrating multimodal input, advanced reasoning, and follow-up questioning to tackle complex queries more efficiently than ever before. The feature will be accessible as a dedicated tab on the Google Search results page and within the Google app on Android and iOS devices. Image credit: Supplied 'We're excited to bring AI Mode to more users across MENA, starting with English,' Google said in a statement. 'This is our most powerful search experience yet, and we're looking forward to expanding it to more languages and regions soon.' A new era of AI-powered search AI Mode is built on a custom version of Google's Gemini 2.5 model, enabling users to submit more nuanced and layered queries that would traditionally require multiple searches. Google says the new tool is ideal for tackling exploratory or complex topics, from trip planning and product comparisons to in-depth how-to guides. According to the company, early adopters are already posing significantly longer queries, often double or triple the length of standard search inputs. An example query might be: 'I want to learn more about the new Seven Wonders of the World. What's the significance of each, and where are they located?' AI Mode processes this type of question by breaking it into subtopics using what Google calls its 'query fan-out' technique. This allows the system to run multiple simultaneous searches, delivering more comprehensive, relevant results than a traditional search. Multimodal functionality: Beyond just text AI Mode introduces multimodal capabilities, allowing users to ask questions through text, voice, or images. By tapping the microphone icon, users can speak their query or upload photos directly into the search bar. This new flexibility is intended to make search more intuitive and accessible for everyone, regardless of how they prefer to interact with technology. 'The future of search is multimodal,' Google said. 'AI Mode is designed to understand input from different formats and provide rich, meaningful responses.' Prioritising high-quality information As Google continues to incorporate artificial intelligence into its core search infrastructure, the company says it's committed to maintaining high standards of information quality and source diversity. The new system builds upon Google's existing ranking models and is designed to surface content from a wide range of reputable sources. This commitment was also evident in May when Google launched AI Overviews, another AI-powered tool that summarises complex information directly in the search interface. According to Google, AI Overviews have led users to explore a broader range of websites, often resulting in longer, more meaningful visits. AI Mode also adapts dynamically based on confidence levels. If the system is not sufficiently confident in the AI-generated response, it defaults to a standard web search result. 'We aim to show an AI-powered response as much as possible, but in cases where confidence is low, we prioritise traditional results,' the company stated. Looking ahead While Google acknowledges that AI Mode is still in its early stages, it emphasised ongoing efforts to refine the feature. 'We won't always get it right,' the company admitted. 'But we are committed to continuous improvement and to helping users get the most out of the web.' As AI Mode begins its rollout across the MENA region, it marks a significant step forward in how users can interact with and benefit from artificial intelligence in everyday search experiences.


Arabian Business
3 hours ago
- Arabian Business
‘It doesn't need to be this hard': Over 80% of startup founders feel alone – and it slows them down
More than 80 per cent of startup founders experience isolation some or all of the time, and those who do are 50 per cent more likely to postpone important decisions, according to a new survey. The poll of 120 founders, conducted by The Founder's Sanctuary, cites three practical barriers to getting help: 52 per cent said lack of time blocks access to support; 41 per cent cited cost; and 36 per cent juggle caregiving alongside building their businesses, limiting participation in accelerators, coaching or mentorship groups. Nearly two-thirds (64 per cent) said stress and overwork are already denting performance by impairing judgement and slowing startup progress. 'Entrepreneurship doesn't need to be this hard,' said Helen McGuire, founder of The Founder's Sanctuary. 'We need to stop glorifying 'struggling through it' and start making support more accessible and flexible, putting the founder first.' McGuire described isolation as 'decision-making in a vacuum – no one to sense-check strategy, no time or way to seek genuine advice,' often compounded by caregiving. She said 'always-on' leadership norms worsen time pressure, and one-size-fits-all programmes can amplify cost barriers. Peer groups deliver the fastest payoff, she added, measured by quicker decisions and higher confidence in the organisation's April 2025 cohort. 'Support has to meet people where they are, even taking into account seasonal term times for those with kids,' she added. Launched in April this year, The Founder's Sanctuary is a nine-week programme that combines access to advisors, strategy sessions and wellness resources in a peer-led format. It is positioned as a lower-cost, more flexible alternative to traditional accelerators and coaching. McGuire – whom the organisation says is among the 0.5 per cent of women to have successfully exited a business – argues that protecting time for founder-to-founder exchange reduces isolation, while 'overworking in silence' makes it worse. The wider evidence Independent research points to a broader loneliness problem at work and to clear performance risks. Workplace loneliness remains widespread. Gallup's State of the Global Workplace 2024 found that one in five employees said they felt lonely 'a lot of the previous day,' with higher rates among employees under 35 and among fully remote workers (25 per cent remote vs 16 per cent on-site). The World Health Organisation has elevated social connection to a global health priority. Its Commission on Social Connection estimates about one in six people worldwide experience loneliness; in May 2025, Member States adopted the first-ever World Health Assembly resolution urging policies and programmes to foster social connection. Public-health guidance also links loneliness to business performance. The US Surgeon General's 2023 advisory warns that loneliness and social isolation are associated with lower productivity and engagement at work and calls for employer action to rebuild connection. Academic literature connects stress and burnout with decision quality. Peer-reviewed work associates burnout with executive-function deficits, while reviews show stress alters how people make high-pressure choices – patterns consistent with delayed or more conservative decision-making. Founder-specific data mirror the trend. Startup Snapshot's The Untold Toll (2023) reported 72 per cent of founders said entrepreneurship affected their mental health and 37 per cent reported anxiety; separate reporting notes only about 10 per cent feel comfortable discussing stress with investors. 'Entrepreneurship doesn't need to be a lonely endurance test. With the right mix of expert input, peer accountability, and well-being support, founders build not only stronger companies but more sustainable lives,' said McGuire.


Zawya
4 hours ago
- Zawya
Narrative Summit unveils key recommendations to position Egypt as a global tourism destination
Lamia Kamel: We look forward to these recommendations serving as a bridge between the exceptional leaders who took part in the Summit and decision-makers, paving the way for greater growth in Egypt's tourism and economy. Narrative Summit, Egypt's first international nation branding platform, has released its 2025 recommendations, highlighting new pathways to revitalize and strengthen Egypt's position as a world-class tourism destination. Held in April in Soma Bay on the Red Sea, the ninth edition of the Summit brought together government ministers, international business leaders, and tourism experts to discuss strategies that can drive growth, attract foreign investment, and showcase Egypt's competitive edge. The Summit reaffirmed that tourism remains one of Egypt's strongest competitive advantages, built on a heritage and cultural legacy unmatched worldwide. Among the recommendations was a stronger push for luxury and innovative offerings, most notably eco-tourism, which can appeal to new markets by showcasing destinations such as Siwa Oasis. The Summit also identified wellness tourism as a rising opportunity, blending healthcare improvements with economic development. Another key recommendation was the revitalization of Downtown Cairo as a vibrant, integrated entertainment and tourism hub that reflects Egypt's heritage. The model could later be extended to other neighborhoods, including Zamalek, Garden City, and Maadi, reinforcing their appeal to both domestic and international visitors. Complementing these urban development initiatives, the recommendations highlighted the anticipated opening of the long-awaited Grand Egyptian Museum as a once-in-a-generation opportunity to reshape Egypt's image on the global stage. With world leaders and international media expected to attend, the Summit stressed the importance of leveraging the event to reinforce Egypt's status as a leading global tourism destination. 'We want to put forward a clear, future-focused vision for Egyptian tourism, one that positions the country as a truly integrated global destination,' said Lamia Kamel, Founder of Narrative Summit, former Assistant Minister of Tourism for Promotion, founder of CC Plus. 'Through this report, we are sharing actionable recommendations that can guide decision-makers, helping to transform insights into tangible opportunities for growth.' Kamel also underscored the role of the recommendations in connecting insights to action, stating: 'We look forward to these recommendations serving as a bridge between the exceptional leaders who took part in the Summit and decision-makers, paving the way for greater progress in Egypt's tourism and economy.' She went on to explain that the report is not just a collection of ideas but a functional roadmap, designed to translate the Summit's discussions into practical steps that support Egypt's tourism ambitions and economic advancement. The recommendations further encouraged the promotion of lesser-known destinations, such as the Lighthouse of Alexandria, alongside Egypt's iconic landmarks, through innovative international campaigns that strengthen Egypt's image as a comprehensive tourism destination. To support creativity in tourism promotion, the Summit also called for simplifying filming procedures at scenic locations, enabling the production of artistic and musical works that enhance Egypt's positive global image. Finally, the Summit projected that these recommendations, if adopted, could contribute to an increase of around one million tourists annually. This outlook is supported by ongoing reforms, including streamlined visa processes, infrastructure development, and the rollout of major national projects, led by the Grand Egyptian Museum, which is described as one of the most remarkable cultural institutions the world has ever seen.