C3: Connecting Egypt's startup ecosystem to regional capital and innovation

Companies Creating Change (C3) is deepening ties between Egypt’s startup community and regional capital by channeling partnerships, accelerators and corporate programmes that have already supported hundreds of impact-driven ventures across MENA and Africa. Since 2012 C3 has supported over 530 startups — “approximately 90% still operational” — and says it has accelerated more than 50 Egyptian startups to date. Recent initiatives include the Net Zero Catalyst with HSBC, a Nature Impact Accelerator, a Women in Tech UAE Accelerator with Standard Chartered, and the newly launched C3 EmpowerHer program funded by the Resilient Futures Fund. Cohort statistics underline traction: the C3 Net Zero Catalyst supported 18 growth-stage ClimateTech startups and “the majority of cohort companies” have raised $5 million, while the C3 Impact Accelerators’ 2025–2026 cohort includes 40% female founders and cohort companies have raised $2.5 million.

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“We are sector-agnostic but focus primarily on impact-driven initiatives,” said Medea Nocentini, Founder of C3 and Senior Partner at Global Ventures. “Ultimately, our mission is to build stronger innovation ecosystems that generate long-term economic, social, and environmental value.”

C3 positions itself as more than a traditional accelerator: it is a B Corp™ certified impact platform that connects entrepreneurs, corporates and investors through bespoke programmes, commercial pilots and ecosystem convenings. Nocentini underscored the role of cross-sector collaboration, saying, “We believe the most effective innovation happens when startups, corporates, investors, and industry experts work together.” In practice, that model pairs corporate market access and domain expertise with startup agility and new technologies to move ventures from idea stage to investment-ready and commercially viable solutions.

• Scale and results: Over 530 startups supported since 2012 with roughly 90% still operating; more than 50 Egyptian startups accelerated; Global Ventures (C3’s parent platform) has made 11 direct investments in Egypt.
• Partnerships: Programmes with HSBC, Standard Chartered, Enersol and Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) plus collaborations with RiseUp Egypt, Innoventures, Athar, Stride, A15, Climate Resilient Africa Fund (CRAF), Foundation Ventures, Algebra Ventures and EdVentures.
• Notable alumni: Hiryo, Azizia, PraxiLabs, Chefaa, Alhouneer, Sympl and Paymob.
• Recent programme outcomes: Net Zero Catalyst supported 18 ClimateTech startups with the majority of cohort founders raising $5 million; C3 Impact Accelerators’ 2025–2026 cohort includes 40% female founders and cohort companies have raised $2.5 million.

In Egypt specifically, Nocentini pointed to a maturing ecosystem with a “deep talent pool” and an entrepreneurial culture producing solutions across AI-enabled climate innovation, fintech, digital health, advanced manufacturing and the future of work. She highlighted that access to strategic customers, sector expertise and cross-border networks can be just as important as capital, noting that the next phase of growth requires stronger connections with regional investors and corporate partners to help startups scale beyond domestic markets.

Outlook: C3 plans to continue convening investors, corporates and founders in Cairo and across the region — including events alongside high-profile gatherings such as the RiseUp Summit — and to expand targeted initiatives like C3 EmpowerHer to bolster climate resilience ventures. By combining accelerator cohorts, corporate innovation challenges and investment linkages, C3 aims to translate early-stage impact solutions into regionally scalable businesses and to deepen Egypt’s integration into MENA’s broader innovation and capital networks.