Held under the auspices of the Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, the Ministerial Group for Entrepreneurship, the Ministry of Investment, and the Egyptian Tax Authority, RiseUp Summit 2026 concluded its 13th edition at the Grand Egyptian Museum, in partnership with Legacy Development and Management, a Hassan Allam Holding company and the museum’s operator.
The summit brought together entrepreneurs, investors, government leaders, and representatives of international institutions, reinforcing its role as one of the Middle East and Africa’s most influential platforms supporting startups and innovation.
Three Days of Knowledge, Capital, and Global Dialogue
Over three days, the summit united knowledge exchange, capital access, networking, and partnership-building. More than 400 speakers from over 80 countries addressed key topics including entrepreneurship, artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and scalable business models designed for global expansion.
Launch of Egypt’s Startup Charter
A major milestone marked the third day of the summit with the official launch of Egypt’s Startup Charter in the presence of Prime Minister H.E. Dr. Mostafa Madbouly and H.E. Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation and Chair of the Ministerial Group for Entrepreneurship.
The Charter represents Egypt’s first national framework to institutionalize engagement with startups and innovators. It follows more than a year of consultations involving 15 national entities and over 250 ecosystem representatives.
Over the next five years, the Charter aims to empower up to 5,000 startups, generate approximately 500,000 direct and indirect jobs, stimulate venture capital activity, accelerate international expansion, and attract investments through a unified financing initiative. It also seeks to link national sector challenges with innovative startup-driven solutions.
Strategic Partnerships and Corporate Engagement
The 2026 edition witnessed strong corporate participation, led by Madinet Masr as Main Partner, alongside Seven, Mada, TikTok, Deloitte, IM Motors, and others.
The summit introduced innovative matchmaking formats, including the “Pitching your startup to an investor in a Car” experience and curated investor meetings where each investor connected with approximately 20 startups, enhancing meaningful engagement opportunities.
Investment Milestones and Competitions
A key highlight was the A Ventures x RiseUp Summit Pitch Competition, offering guaranteed funding of up to $500,000. Investment commitments exceeded expectations, with Remi securing $500,000, Shadoo receiving $50,000, and AI Scada awarded $21,000.
Launchpads featured major announcements from ecosystem players including Ngage, Bosta, Agora, and CC Plus.
RiseUp also hosted the Red Bull Basement National Qualifier in Egypt. The winning team advanced to compete for the global prize of $100,000 and an opportunity to reach Silicon Valley.
Employment and Talent Development
More than 300 companies participated, creating tangible employment pathways for youth. The American Chamber of Commerce Career Development Center played a key role in facilitating employment connections, alongside institutions such as Commercial International Bank, which conducted direct recruitment interviews during the summit.
Vision for Global Connectivity
AbdelHamid Sherara, CEO and Founder of RiseUp Summit, emphasized that the 13th edition marked a significant leap in scale and impact. He noted that RiseUp has evolved into a central platform connecting startups to funding, human capital, and strategic partnerships across government and global corporations.
Hosting the summit for the fourth consecutive year at the Grand Egyptian Museum reflects the depth of its strategic partnership with Legacy Development and Management and its continued commitment to advancing innovation and entrepreneurship in Egypt and beyond.
