Egypt rolls out Startup Charter, eyes $1 billion over five years    

Egypt has launched its first national Startup Charter, a government-backed framework aimed at mobilising $1 billion in funding over the next five years and supporting the creation of about 500,000 direct and indirect jobs. 

The charter was unveiled on Saturday by Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly alongside Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation Minister Rania Al-Mashat.

Officials say the plan is designed to support as many as 5,000 startups, following more than a year of talks involving 15 government bodies and over 250 founders, investors, lawmakers and ecosystem operators. 

“This is not a document meant to sit on a shelf,” Al-Mashat said. “It is built to be applied, reviewed and adjusted as technology and markets change.”

New Charter opens doors for startups

At the heart of the charter is Egypt’s first unified, government-approved definition of a startup. Under the framework, startups are classified as newly established companies with high growth potential that rely on innovative products, services or business models. 

The definition allows qualifying firms to receive official certification from small and medium enterprise authorities, giving them access to targeted incentives, simplified procedures and government support programs that were previously fragmented.

Egypt invests in its people

The government plans to meet its $1 billion funding goal by coordinating public resources and pairing them with private capital through co-investment structures.

Officials say this approach could multiply the impact of state funding through guarantees and partnerships with venture capital firms. 

The charter also introduces a Startup Scale-Up Empowerment Program focused on more established companies.

The program is intended to help later-stage startups attract large investments, prepare for stock market listings or pursue strategic exits, while supporting companies with regional and global ambitions. 

Speaking at the RiseUp Summit at the Grand Egyptian Museum, Madbouly described the charter as a practical step toward building a knowledge-driven economy. 

“No country can move forward without investing in its people,” he said, adding that recent economic reforms — including steps to stabilize the currency and rein in inflation — are meant to improve conditions for private sector growth.

Charter simplifies business, tracks startup progress

To improve the business climate, the charter outlines measures to simplify taxes, streamline company closures and exits, and publish a single guidance manual covering permits and licenses. The manual was developed with support from Intilaaq and UN Women. 

An Entrepreneurship Policy Observatory has also been set up to track progress and collect data. It will include a Council of Elders drawn from the startup community, tasked with advising the Ministerial Group for Entrepreneurship, established by decree in September 2024. 

The roadmap highlights priority areas such as deep technology, agricultural technology and travel technology, linking public sector needs with solutions built by startups.