Latest news with #Creativa
Time of India
22-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
4 Bathinda women take phulkari embroidery to int'l stage at Creativa Dortmund
1 2 Bathinda: Hailing from the Malwa hinterland, with modest backgrounds and not much access to the outside world, four women from Bathinda villages have taken Phulkari (a flower pattern embroidery) to well-known boutiques and design stores of Cologne. After rubbing shoulders with renowned handicraft designers at the Creativa Dortmund fair in Germany, these women successfully brought Phulkari to the global stage by showcasing their work at one of Europe's largest and most creative exhibitions in March. Creativa is a large European creativity and handicrafts fair, known for showcasing the latest innovations and trends in the creative industry. "My maternal grandmother gave me a Phulkari at my marriage, which piqued my interest towards this artform. I received a formal training in this folk art and even provided training to certain women. Now, when I got a chance to showcase this talent, I prepared Phulkari bookmarks to be handed over to foreign delegates, which were highly appreciated. I had a chance to hold a debate over creativity and collaborations to take Phulkari to other levels. Upon visiting design centres in Cologne, I got an understanding of German fashion fiestas," says Satbir Kaur from Ramsarra village in Bathinda, who acted as a Phulkari trainer at a centre prepared by Guru Gobind Singh Refinery. The refinery collaborated with Nabha Foundation in sending the Phulkari trainers to the Dortmund exhibition. Apart from Satbir, Manpreet Kaur from Mahinangal village, Sandeep Kaur from Malkana village, and Lakhbir Kaur participated with Nabha Foundation executive director Shubhra Singh and Guru Gobind Singh Refinery CSR head Vishav Mohan Prasad. Manpreet Kaur says, "I was studying privately at home and never imagined that I would attend an international creative fair, but aligning with HMEL Refinery's Phulkari project gave my life a whole new purpose. During the German visit, I found that, like the Kashmir Pashmina Shawl, the naturally coloured Indian creativity could be taken to further heights with trending designs." Sandeep Kaur said after participating in a bag-making workshop at the fair, she learnt a lot about world designs and prepared bags as per the European styles. Over 700 exhibitors from across the world participated in Creativa, where these women initially found themselves to be inferior but won laurels with their creativity and designs. These four women earlier received training at a centre set up by the refinery and later turned out to be trainers. Nearly 300 rural women have received training in Phulkari making in the last few years. MSID:: 120405404 413 |
Zawya
17-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Waha Connect to promote technological innovation in Upper Egypt
Beni Suef – The second edition of "Waha Connect: Shaping the ICT Horizon" kicked off today at the Beni Suef New Technology Park, bringing together top leaders in the technology industry, entrepreneurs, and ICT experts. The event is part of Silicon Waha's ongoing efforts to support digital innovation and promote investment and expansion opportunities in the tech sector, particularly in Upper Egypt. The event features a series of inspiring panel discussions highlighting success stories of local startups and talents, while also exploring the future of contact centers and outsourcing services, and the role of technology parks in driving digital transformation. It also serves as a dynamic networking platform for experts, investors, and companies, helping foster strategic partnerships that contribute to the growth of Egypt's technology sector. During the opening remarks, Hashim Mansi, CEO of Silicon Waha, stated: "The launch of the second edition of Waha Connect reflects our commitment to empowering young talent and creating a fully integrated tech ecosystem that supports the growth of startups and SMEs in Upper Egypt. The Beni Suef New Technology Park has become a model for digital innovation communities, offering advanced infrastructure and attractive investment opportunities that support Egypt's digital economy and strengthen its position as a regional hub for IT and outsourcing services." The event welcomed over 250 attendees, including senior executives, industry experts, and representatives from global and regional companies. The agenda featured interactive panel discussions and inspiring TED Talk-style presentations focused on leveraging technology to drive economic development and open new opportunities for local talent in innovation and entrepreneurship. Among the key speakers were: Mr. Ramez Artine, COO of Aura Communication, who shared the journey of his company in a session titled 'From Local Roots to National Reach: The Rise of a Contact Center Startup.' He discussed how Aura evolved from a local agency into a strategic contact center partner for Vodafone Egypt, launching its first contact center in the Beni Suef New Technology Park and achieving national operational leadership. Dr. Sherif Kamal, Beni Suef Technological University faculty member and the Industrial Control Department head at the Egyptian-Korean College of Industry and Energy Technology at Beni Suef Technological University, presented 'Building the Future: Empowering Tech Generations from the Ground Up.' He shared his extensive experience in smart control systems and renewable energy, focusing on preparing the next generation to lead Egypt's industrial future. Ms. Heba Ali Azmy, representative of the Creativa initiative and Innovation Program Manager at TIEC and ITIDA, gave a session titled 'Technology Without Borders: Startups from Beni Suef Reshaping Everyday Life.' She highlighted four promising startups: o SUDU, a delivery app providing daily household needs in minutes o WEXFI, an intelligent platform for wireless network management and customer behavior analysis o Green Pyramids, a company transforming used cooking oil into eco-friendly biofuel o Dinamo, a ride-sharing app serving underserved towns and villages Nahda University led an inspiring session titled 'Made in Beni Suef: Graduation Projects Shaping Egypt's Future,' moderated by Dr. Mohamed Qarni, Head of the Electrical Engineering and Renewable Energy Department. Samsung also participated as a guest of honor, with Ms. Soham Atta, Government Relations Director, delivering a presentation titled 'Made in Beni Suef: Why Samsung Chose the Heart of Upper Egypt for Its Industrial Launch.' She discussed the strategic reasons behind Samsung's investment in Beni Suef, emphasizing the critical role of the region's strong industrial ecosystem and skilled local talent in achieving global success stories 'Made in Egypt.' This event presents a promising opportunity to showcase inspiring models of collaboration between academia and the private sector, and to highlight the untapped potential of Upper Egypt — particularly Beni Suef — as a growing center for innovation and sustainable development. The event reflects the pivotal role technology parks play in driving digital transformation and knowledge-based economic growth. Beni Suef New Technology Park offers a fully integrated environment with modern infrastructure, investment incentives, and operational facilitation, making it an ideal destination for companies seeking expansion beyond Cairo. With the launch of the second edition of Waha Connect, Silicon Waha continues its commitment to empowering entrepreneurs, enhancing the investment environment, and creating new job opportunities in Upper Egypt — all contributing to the country's vision of a modern, sustainable digital economy.
Tahya Masr
16-04-2025
- Business
- Tahya Masr
ITIDA Launches 'Invest-IT' to Accelerate Startup Investment Readiness Across Egypt
Fifteen promising Egyptian tech startups unveiled their breakthrough innovations during the launch of the first edition of Invest-IT, a nationwide program led by the Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center (TIEC)—an affiliate of the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA)—in collaboration with Flat6Labs, the MENA region's leading seed and early-stage venture capital firm. Designed to enhance investment readiness for tech startups in the Seed and Pre-Series A stages, Invest-IT targets emerging entrepreneurs across various Egyptian governorates, aiming to help them secure funding, expand operations, and drive sustainable economic growth through innovation. The launch event brought together key stakeholders in Egypt's tech ecosystem, including Eng. Ahmed El-Zaher, CEO of ITIDA; Hany Al-Sonbaty, Founder and Chairman of Flat6Labs; Dina El-Shenoufy, Chief Investment Officer at Flat6Labs; Lamiaa El Rashidy, Incubation Manager at TIEC; along with the founders of the participating startups. "The Invest-IT program represents a pivotal milestone in our efforts to empower Egyptian startups during their most critical phase—investment readiness. At ITIDA, we are deeply committed to building a resilient and inclusive technology ecosystem that not only nurtures innovation but also equips startups to scale and compete on a global stage." — Eng. Ahmed El-Zaher, CEO of ITIDA He added: 'Our strategy is holistic—starting from igniting a culture of innovation within universities, scaling up our nationwide Digital Egypt Innovation Hubs (Creativa), and delivering future-ready digital skills, all the way to facilitating access to essential funding and investment for scaling through strategic private-sector partnerships.' From AI and fintech to logistics, proptech, and smart energy solutions, the diversity of startups participating in Invest-IT showcases Egypt's rapidly maturing innovation landscape and its potential to become a regional startup powerhouse. Featured Startups The Seed Funding group includes: The White Guard: cybersecurity and high-quality PPE manufacturing Dragify: AI solutions for the financial services sector HNDL: fleet management tech in the logistics domain Turuq: technology-driven packaging and shipping services Skoolix: smart digital learning tools KENNAH: proptech for underutilized real estate assets Atoms AI: AI-powered semiconductor inspection PhotonSmart: energy-efficient smart home devices for hospitality and residential sectors The Pre-Series A cohort features startups with mature business models, such as: Valify: AI-based digital identity verification Mrkoon: digital platform linking waste management suppliers and retailers Qubefyn: AI-powered data intelligence solutions Venu: venue-booking and management platform for events Amanleek: insurtech for individuals and businesses LyRise: affordable enterprise AI solutions Hoopoe Digital: location-based digital services powered by large-scale Wi-Fi data Hany Al-Sonbaty, Founder of Flat6Labs and Managing Director of Sawari Ventures, emphasized: 'Invest-IT represents a model of integrated collaboration—bringing together resources, capital, and mentorship to empower startups with both technical know-how and purpose-driven leadership. At Flat6Labs, we believe entrepreneurship is not only about funding, but about people, values, and creating lasting impact.' Program Structure The Invest-IT program is structured in two distinct phases designed to accelerate startup growth and investment readiness. In Phase One, startups receive intensive workshops, personalized mentorship, and access to essential resources aimed at strengthening their business models and investment fundamentals. Phase Two focuses on investor engagement, where participants are connected with a curated network of investors through targeted matchmaking opportunities to facilitate funding and growth.
Zawya
16-04-2025
- Business
- Zawya
ITIDA launches 'Invest-IT' to accelerate startup investment readiness across Egypt
Cairo: Fifteen promising Egyptian tech startups unveiled their breakthrough innovations during the launch of the first edition of Invest-IT, a nationwide program led by the Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center (TIEC)—an affiliate of the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA)—in collaboration with Flat6Labs, the MENA region's leading seed and early-stage venture capital firm. Designed to enhance investment readiness for tech startups in the Seed and Pre-Series A stages, Invest-IT targets emerging entrepreneurs across various Egyptian governorates, aiming to help them secure funding, expand operations, and drive sustainable economic growth through innovation. The launch event brought together key stakeholders in Egypt's tech ecosystem, including Eng. Ahmed El-Zaher, CEO of ITIDA; Hany Al-Sonbaty, Founder and Chairman of Flat6Labs; Dina El-Shenoufy, Chief Investment Officer at Flat6Labs; Lamiaa El Rashidy, Incubation Manager at TIEC; along with the founders of the participating startups. "The Invest-IT program represents a pivotal milestone in our efforts to empower Egyptian startups during their most critical phase—investment readiness. At ITIDA, we are deeply committed to building a resilient and inclusive technology ecosystem that not only nurtures innovation but also equips startups to scale and compete on a global stage." — Eng. Ahmed El-Zaher, CEO of ITIDA He added: 'Our strategy is holistic—starting from igniting a culture of innovation within universities, scaling up our nationwide Digital Egypt Innovation Hubs (Creativa), and delivering future-ready digital skills, all the way to facilitating access to essential funding and investment for scaling through strategic private-sector partnerships.' From AI and fintech to logistics, proptech, and smart energy solutions, the diversity of startups participating in Invest-IT showcases Egypt's rapidly maturing innovation landscape and its potential to become a regional startup powerhouse. Featured Startups The Seed Funding group includes: The White Guard: cybersecurity and high-quality PPE manufacturing Dragify: AI solutions for the financial services sector HNDL: fleet management tech in the logistics domain Turuq: technology-driven packaging and shipping services Skoolix: smart digital learning tools KENNAH: proptech for underutilized real estate assets Atoms AI: AI-powered semiconductor inspection PhotonSmart: energy-efficient smart home devices for hospitality and residential sectors The Pre-Series A cohort features startups with mature business models, such as: Valify: AI-based digital identity verification Mrkoon: digital platform linking waste management suppliers and retailers Qubefyn: AI-powered data intelligence solutions Venu: venue-booking and management platform for events Amanleek: insurtech for individuals and businesses LyRise: affordable enterprise AI solutions Hoopoe Digital: location-based digital services powered by large-scale Wi-Fi data Hany Al-Sonbaty, Founder of Flat6Labs and Managing Director of Sawari Ventures, emphasized: 'Invest-IT represents a model of integrated collaboration—bringing together resources, capital, and mentorship to empower startups with both technical know-how and purpose-driven leadership. At Flat6Labs, we believe entrepreneurship is not only about funding, but about people, values, and creating lasting impact.' Program Structure The Invest-IT program is structured in two distinct phases designed to accelerate startup growth and investment readiness. In Phase One, startups receive intensive workshops, personalized mentorship, and access to essential resources aimed at strengthening their business models and investment fundamentals. Phase Two focuses on investor engagement, where participants are connected with a curated network of investors through targeted matchmaking opportunities to facilitate funding and growth.
