ITIDA, Plug and Play conclude Aswan Bootcamp Series as startups secure $3.7m in Upper Egypt

Egypt’s Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) has wrapped up the Aswan Bootcamp Series in partnership with Plug and Play, a programme that supported 61 startups across Upper Egypt and helped several participating companies collectively secure investments estimated at EGP200 million (US$3.7 million). Disrupt Africa reported in December 2024 on the launch of the series, which was backed by ITIDA, Plug and Play Egypt and USAID and aimed to accelerate tech-enabled entrepreneurship in the country’s southern governorates.

Direct quote

“This is not simply the conclusion of a programme,” said Ahmed El-Zaher, CEO of ITIDA. “It is a demonstration of a broader national direction — one that places startup growth and entrepreneurial empowerment at the center of economic development, particularly in Upper Egypt, where the potential to build globally competitive companies is significant.”

Programme details and context

The Aswan Bootcamp Series was launched as a targeted effort to cultivate early-stage companies and connect founders in Upper Egypt with mentorship, market access and potential investors. According to the Disrupt Africa coverage, 61 startups participated in the programme and a number of those firms went on to secure investment commitments valued collectively at roughly EGP200 million (US$3.7 million).

• Organisers and supporters: ITIDA, Plug and Play Egypt, USAID
• Participants: 61 startups from Upper Egypt
• Reported investment secured: EGP200 million (US$3.7 million)
• Launch reported by Disrupt Africa in December 2024

ITIDA’s chief executive framed the bootcamp’s conclusion as part of a wider strategy to develop Egypt’s information and communications technology sector. El-Zaher said supporting technology startups and IT-enabled ventures remains “a core pillar of ITIDA’s strategy to develop Egypt’s ICT sector,” calling such companies “key drivers of sustainable innovation and long-term competitiveness.” He also emphasised the value of international partnerships, noting that collaboration with global accelerators such as Plug and Play has been “instrumental in connecting Egyptian startups to markets, expertise, and investment networks.”

Outlook

With the Aswan Bootcamp Series concluded, organisers and stakeholders will likely shift focus toward sustaining momentum from the cohort’s fundraising outcomes and deepening connections between southern Egyptian founders and larger investment and market ecosystems. The reported EGP200 million in funding for participating startups provides a tangible sign of investor interest in ventures emerging from Upper Egypt, and ITIDA’s public statements indicate continued institutional support for tying regional entrepreneurship to national ICT objectives.