Egyptian Tech Startups Win Trip to U.S. Summit

Two Egyptian tech companies are heading to the United States to compete for international investment after winning a prestigious startup competition in Cairo. The victory gives them access to thousands of potential investors and partners at one of America's largest business summits.

The U.S. Embassy in Cairo partnered with the American University in Cairo's Venture Lab to host the SelectUSA Tech Pitch Competition on February 12. Sixteen emerging tech entrepreneurs presented their business ideas to a panel of industry experts, all competing for the chance to represent Egypt at the SelectUSA Investment Summit in National Harbor, Maryland.

Untap and Tijara Hub took home top honors after their presentations convinced judges they had what it takes to succeed in the competitive U.S. market. Two other companies, Hiroy and Plan Q, received honorable mentions for their innovative approaches.

The winners will join the SelectUSA Tech stage at the May 3-6 summit alongside other Egyptian startups who register independently. The event connects international entrepreneurs with American investors, technology partners, and business resources that can help them scale globally.

U.S. Chargé d'Affaires Evyenia Sidereas praised the quality of this year's competitors during the awards ceremony. "These companies have the potential to drive transformative, real-world outcomes," she said, noting that connecting Egyptian innovators with U.S. tech sector entrepreneurs could create economic wins for both nations.

The competition brought together respected judges from Egypt's startup ecosystem, including representatives from business financing firm FinBi, venture financier Venture Capital, and angel investment group Alex Angels. Entrepreneurship institutions like Entreprenelle and incubators including Mint Incubator and Flat6 Labs helped identify and nominate promising candidates.

The Ripple Effect

This annual competition has already changed trajectories for past Egyptian participants. Previous winners have gained U.S. recognition and successfully expanded their operations thanks to connections made through SelectUSA Tech, proving the program creates lasting opportunities beyond a single event.

The partnership demonstrates America's ongoing commitment to supporting technology-driven startups worldwide who want to access U.S. markets. For Egypt's growing tech scene, it provides crucial exposure to international investors and validates the country's emerging role as an innovation hub in the Middle East and North Africa region.

The program also strengthens economic ties between the two nations by creating pathways for Egyptian entrepreneurs to bring their solutions to American customers while potentially opening offices and creating jobs in both countries.

Egypt's startup ecosystem continues growing stronger, one pitch competition at a time.