Egyptian Startups Win Spot at US Investment Summit

Two innovative Egyptian startups are heading to Maryland this May with a golden opportunity to pitch their businesses to American investors and expand into the world's largest tech market.

Untap and Tijara Hub won the SelectUSA Tech Demo Competition, hosted at the American University in Cairo's Venture Lab. The victory gives them access to the SelectUSA Investment Summit running May 3-6, where they'll connect with investors and receive guidance on entering the US market.

Untap, based in Cairo, built a platform that makes running innovation challenges easier. Their software helps companies manage hackathons, startup competitions, and talent searches all in one place.

Tijara Hub tackles a different challenge: connecting businesses with local manufacturers in Egypt and Turkey. Their digital marketplace lets retailers buy products in bulk with fast delivery and custom logistics.

The SelectUSA program, run by the US Department of Commerce, focuses on bringing foreign businesses to America in ways that create American jobs. Since its launch, the initiative has helped create and sustain over 200,000 jobs across the United States.

The Ripple Effect

These two wins represent something bigger happening in Egypt's tech ecosystem. Egyptian startups attracted $614 million in funding during 2025, marking a 51 percent jump from the previous year.

Egypt recently launched its Startup Charter, a comprehensive support package designed to help 5,000 startups grow and create around 500,000 jobs. The charter provides legal protections, simplified permits, and regulatory support specifically tailored for young companies.

Small and medium businesses already form the backbone of Egypt's economy, making up 90 percent of the private sector and employing three-quarters of the workforce. Now the government wants to push the private sector's share of total investment from current levels to 72 percent by 2030.

The competition welcomed startups founded within the last decade with fewer than 40 employees and revenues under $10 million. Winners fund their own travel, but gain priceless access to mentorship, market insights, and investor networks that could transform their businesses.

For Untap and Tijara Hub, this May summit could be the launchpad that takes their Egyptian success stories global.