North Africa /
Egypt / Giza - Accelerators
![Sawari Ventures - school image](https://africa-school-bucket3.s3.amazonaws.com/static/img/school/2023/05/13/samecr.png)
Sawari Ventures
Sawari Ventures is a venture capital firm based in Cairo, investing in knowledge and innovation-based technologies across North Africa. <p></p> In our part of the world, everywhere you look, there are huge opportunities to be captured and entire industries ripe for transformation. We believe the best way to tackle these transformations is to pair the best talent with smart capital. Our goal is to empower entrepreneurs in the region to create innovative solutions that will drive the region’s economies for years to come. <p></p> Our Investment Thesis <br> We focus our investments on growth and early-stage startups across industries, in sectors including consumer internet, fintech, edtech, healthtech, deeptech, and e-commerce and enabling infrastructure. <p></p> We provide a small allocation to seed stage investments and, through our investments in the Tunis and Cairo seed stage vehicles of Flat6Labs, further contribute to building and strengthening the region’s early-stage ecosystem. <p></p> How we operate and invest is driven by our core convictions: <mark><br>Innovation <br> Our region has an abundance of talent that we are convinced can transform industries if given the opportunity, capital, and necessary support. Our deeptech investments are testament to the innovation that can and will grow out of this region. <p></p>Value Creation <br> We see ourselves as proactive investors who go beyond providing capital. We continuously strive to bring expertise, operational support, and value-add to the companies we work with, and in the process build successful, sustainable companies that capitalize on their opportunities. </mark> <p></p>Responsible Investment <br> We aim to create value not only to our portfolio and investors, but to the wider ecosystem and societies in which we operate. In support of this vision, we have established a tailored framework to effectively integrate ESG considerations into fund decision making. We are also raising awareness and building capacity in ESG matters both at the fund and portfolio level. In the process, we are looking to establish Sawari Ventures as the go-to VC fund for ESG & Impact integration in the region. Sawari Ventures North Africa Fund I & Egypt Fund I <p></p> Our dual fund structure, with Netherlands-incorporated North Africa Fund I and Egypt-incorporated Egypt Fund I, allows us to bring together international capital from our DFI partners and domestic capital from local stakeholders. We believe that this combination of international funds and expertise with local knowledge and roots is critical, and demonstrates how far the local ecosystem has come. <p></p> Founded in 2010, with currently 70M USD AUM, to date, we have invested in 19 companies and 2 seed stage vehicles.
![1864 Accelerator - school image](https://africa-school-bucket3.s3.amazonaws.com/static/img/school/2022/10/14/1864eg.png)
1864 Accelerator
The 1864 Accelerator constitutes the first local financial technology focused 'FinTech' startup accelerator program of its kind in Egypt. Powered by Flat6Labs in partnership with Barclays Bank Egypt, the accelerator is a solid platform for fostering the 'FinTech' innovation space in Egypt through enabling entrepreneurs to transform their disruptive ideas into commercially viable solutions. <p></p> The program welcomes ideas and startups across all business areas related to financial services, including but not limited to; payments, digital banking solutions, banking relationships, machine learning, lending, trading, cyber security, data analytics, payments, cryptocurrency, insurance, wealth management, asset management, and capital markets. <p></p> SUPPORT & OFFERINGS <mark><br> - Funding <br> - Mentorship <br> - Coaching <br> - Training <br> - Industry Support by Barclays <br> - Full-time support staff <br> - Weekly Pitch Night <br> - Perks & Services <br> - Legal Support <br> - Office Space <br> - Business Networking Event <br> - Demo Day </mark>
![TIEC - school image](https://africa-school-bucket3.s3.amazonaws.com/static/img/school/2022/01/31/tiec.jpg)
TIEC
The Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center, TIEC, drives economic growth by providing knowledge and financial support to entrepreneurs and startups. Since 2010, we seek to unleash creative solutions and innovative ideas that make impacts in Egypt. Our vision expands well beyond local benefits; <mark>we aim for being a leading regional hub and world-class center for entrepreneurship and innovation. </mark> <p></p> Vision and Mission<br> IT innovations make our life easier and improve its quality. Entrepreneurial businesses spur economic growth and add to national incomes. Startups, innovators and entrepreneurs need to overcome challenges, capitalize on new opportunities and avoid potential pitfalls. The Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center (TIEC) help them raise funds and bring them extremely close to their causes. <p></p> Technology Innovation & Entrepreneurship Center(TIEC) runs an accelerator program to catapult startups towards investments and success by providing them with mentorship and business education. <mark>This program offers acceleration services, learning by doing business opportunities, business coaching, guidance & knowledge on topics like development of business models, market entry strategies, operations management, minimum viable product development, financial & budget planning of the businesses, access to workshops & boot camp programs and pitching opportunities in front of potential investors.</mark>
![Start Egypt - school image](https://africa-school-bucket3.s3.amazonaws.com/static/img/school/2022/01/31/startegypt.jpg)
Start Egypt
Start Egypt hosts a pre-acceleration incubation program that empowers, inspires, and supports entrepreneurs of Egypt to build socially impactful business enterprises. <mark>This 4-month incubation program is funded by UK's DFID (Department for International Development) and is focused on providing members with mentorship, training, coaching, tailored business support, and access to network with industry corporates.</mark> They encourage young entrepreneurial minds and assist them to turn their business ideas into scalable and profitable business ventures.
![ITIDA - school image](https://africa-school-bucket3.s3.amazonaws.com/static/img/school/2022/01/31/itida.jpg)
ITIDA
Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) runs a technology incubator business program that helps early-stage startups and entrepreneurs by offering them business support services, flexible business workspaces, and shared facilities. <mark>They assist startups to turn their business prototype, plans & ideas into successful business ventures.</mark> This program promotes economic development by providing entrepreneurs with job opportunities, mentorship & guidance, incubation services, emergence support, a collaborative business environment, cash upto EGP 60K, in-kind services, and tools & equipment for growth.