• The Aswan Bootcamp Series is a collaboration between Plug and Play, USAID-EGA, ITIDA, and Creativa to empower Upper Egypt’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
• It highlights Upper Egypt’s potential as a scalable market and a rich talent pool while driving regional tech and innovation.
• The program equips startups with tools for sustainability and promotes regional innovation to level Egypt’s entrepreneurship ecosystem.

Plug and Play, a global company present in more than 60 locations, launched the Aswan Bootcamp Series to promote Aswan’s potential as an innovation hub on November 19, 2024. Leading Silicon Valley venture capital firm and the largest accelerator and innovation hub enabler in the world counts for this specific project with funding support from USAID’s Economic Governance Activity (USAID-EGA) and logistical support provided by ITIDA and Creativa.

The project represents a strategic effort to expand Egypt’s entrepreneurial footprint beyond Cairo, unlocking untapped potential in Upper Egypt. Its relevance for Egypt’s development strategy, Vision 2030, was marked by the attendance of Amr Talaat, Egypt’s Minister of Communications and Information Technology.

Karima El Hakim, Plug and Play Egypt’s Country Director explained the opportunities and solutions the Aswan Bootcamp Series seeks to address.

“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. 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,” said Hakim.

Boot Camp Structure and Long-Term Goals

The Aswan Bootcamp Series comprises five cohorts and each cohort will attend an intensive eight-day in-person training session. This is followed by two weeks of personalized mentorship.

The first cohort includes Becom, CourseTopia, Dragons, FreePay, I Can Coach You, Mandobak, Mattlob, Rozaswan, Sal7lyy, Talabatak, Tricho Tech Farm and Wexfi. These startups are based throughout Upper Egypt and more specifically in the cities of Aswan, Assiut, Fayoum, Minya, Sohag, and Qena.

The mentorship is designed to guide tech-enabled startups through critical areas such as financial management, product-market fit, scalability, and commercialization. Participants will benefit from Plug and Play’s global network of experts offering one-on-one mentoring sessions and connections to potential investors.

Post-program support ensures continued mentorship and networking opportunities, providing access to Cairo’s established entrepreneurial ecosystem to build collaborations and secure vital resources.

With a focus on sectors such as agritech, healthtech, e-commerce, govtech, and tourism, the program aims to equip more than 60 startups with the skills necessary for sustained growth and good governance. Interested startups can apply through the official website of the Aswan Bootcamp Series Application.

Highlighting Regional and Global Potential

The Aswan Bootcamp Series aims to raise Upper Egypt’s profile in Egypt’s and the world’s tech ecosystem. With its rich cultural and historical backdrop, Aswan is positioned as a significant player.

In that line, a flagship event during the boot camp series will showcase innovative solutions to regional challenges. That while spotlighting Aswan’s strategic importance as a platform for global engagement.

Additionally, youth-focused initiatives further underscore the program’s inclusive approach. A hackathon aimed at university students, recent graduates, and young adults between the ages of 18 and 35 will encourage innovation and networking in a supportive environment.

By targeting young talent, the program creates a pipeline of future entrepreneurs, ensuring sustained growth and innovation in the region.

Also, the program focuses on transferring knowledge to local stakeholders. Local enablers will participate in boot camp sessions to learn about methodologies and structures. This approach enables local entrepreneurs to independently replicate similar programs. 

This ensures that the ecosystem continues to grow beyond the boot camp’s duration.

Building a Tech-Enabled Future for Upper Egypt

The Aswan Bootcamp Series is not just a training program; it is a transformative initiative addressing systemic and endemic challenges in Upper Egypt. Startups in the region often face barriers such as limited access to resources, networks, and market opportunities.

These are the obstacles that the program aims to eliminate.

As Ritu Tariyal, USAID’s Deputy Mission Director in Egypt, emphasized, “This new venture will bring world-class mentorship, coaching, and investment networking opportunities to Upper Egypt, making entrepreneurship more accessible and inclusive.”

The program’s sector-specific focus ensures alignment with regional needs.

Agritech startups can address food security challenges, while healthtech ventures improve healthcare access. Additionally, tourism-focused startups utilize Aswan’s unique heritage to develop innovative solutions for sustainable travel.

The road ahead is not easy. However, ITIDA’s track record boosts injects a quota of success.

Eng. Ahmed El-Zaher indicated that ITIDA has provided diverse services to over 9,000 youth, entrepreneurs, and teams, resulting in 52 startups securing investments totaling approximately EGP 75 million.

A Bold Vision for Upper Egypt’s Future

The Aswan Bootcamp Series is a testament to what can be achieved through strategic collaboration. By leveraging the expertise of Plug and Play, the financial support of USAID-EGA, and the infrastructure provided by ITIDA and Creativa, this program sets a new standard for regional innovation.

Furthermore, the boot camp’s structure—spanning intensive boot camps, post-program mentorship, and long-term ecosystem development—ensures that participants are equipped not only for individual success but also for contributing to the broader economy.

With a strong focus on youth inclusion, gender equity, and regional empowerment, the Aswan Bootcamp Series provides a suitable platform for entrepreneurs to present, discuss, and refine innovative solutions. That is, it creates the necessary conditions for a diverse and inclusive tech ecosystem in Upper Egypt.

Plug and Play has a record of success in these types of endeavors in the region, including Egypt. For example, it partnered with Arab Youth Center and PepsiCo Foundation for the Arab Youth Hackathon to engage youth in developing sustainability solutions and took place in five locations: Egypt, UAE, Lebanon, KSA and Jordan.

Also, it has empowered over 150 companies across 15+ sectors through its Smart Cities Program Sultan Hussein Kamel Creativa Innovation Hub in Cairo. This initiative has assisted startups in securing over USD 60 million in funding and contributed to the creation of more than 1,000 jobs.

By decentralizing Egypt’s entrepreneurial landscape and fostering sustainable growth, this initiative ensures that Aswan is no longer a pitstop but a destination for global tech leaders.