Building Egypt’s Startup Engine: Entlaq’s Role in Accelerators and Policy

Since its launch in January 2023, Entlaq has played a catalytic role in Egypt’s entrepreneurship ecosystem. As co-founder and Communications Director, I’ve had the privilege of seeing firsthand how tailored programs, public-private alliances, and policy interventions can reshape the path for founders across sectors.

At Entlaq, we don’t just run accelerators. We co-design growth programs with corporates, multilateral organizations, and government entities. Whether it’s a circular economy bootcamp with UNDP or a policy roundtable on financial inclusion with the Central Bank of Egypt, every initiative is grounded in real challenges.

One example is our collaboration with the World Youth Forum, which empowered young innovators from across Africa and the Middle East to develop market-ready solutions through intensive mentorship and investor exposure. Another is our advisory support to the Ministry of Planning on national MSME policy reform, helping align strategy with ground realities.

Our success is not measured by pitch decks, but by adoption rates, job creation, and sustained partnerships. Egypt is moving from a pilot economy to a product economy, and that transition requires architecture. At Entlaq, we see our work as building that architecture.

The next frontier? Deep-tech, GovTech, and integrated policy support systems. For Egypt to truly lead regionally, startup development and national development must walk hand in hand.