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Funding
Crowdfunding
Crowdfunding allows entrepreneurs to raise (usually) small amounts of capital from a large group of individuals via the Internet to finance their business venture. In Egypt, the following crowd funding opportunities exist:
- Zoomal is a Crowdfunding Company for the Arab World.
- Aflamnah is another Crowdfunding Company for the Arab World.
- Slicebiz is a crowdfunsing platform for startups in Africa.
- World of Crowdfunding offers crowd funding of many projects and businesses.
A list of the top crowd funding websites is available here.
Angel investments
Angel investments are typically the earliest equity investors in startup companies. Angel investors are usually wealthy individuals that band together in investor networks.
- Startup Africa Fund seeks to seed-fund innovative and disruptive technology startups in Africa.
- Cairo Angels funds startups in Egypt.
- Flat6Labs offers seed funding in exchange for minor equity in a company.
- MENA Private Equity Association offers a list of Angel investors operating in the MENA-region.
Venture capital
Venture capital refers to money invested in a project in which there is a substantial element at risk, typically a new or expanding business.
- IdeaVelopers is a VC for startups in Egypt.
- Sawari Ventures invests in extraordinary entrepreneurs who want to change the MENA-region.
- MENA Private Equity Association offers a list of VC’s operating in the MENA-region.
Grants and funds
- The Middle East Partnership Initiative (MEPI) offers a local grant program.
- The GEF Small Grant Program (GEF-SGP) offers small grants for non-governmental organizations and community based organizations.
- The Ford Foundation offers a variety of grants for organizations that work to empower disadvantaged people.
- Shekra is a closed crowd-funding network in Egypt that obeys the principles of Islamic finance.
- The EU-Egypt Innovation Fund (EEIF) offers two grant schemes
- Grant Scheme 1: 100,000-500,000 Euros
- Grant Scheme 2: 10,000-25,000 Euros
- Vodafone Egypt Foundation offers grants for innovative projects that utilize mobile technology to address societal changes.
- The Africa Enterprise Challenge Fund (AECF) is a fund that offers grants and interest free loans though competitions.
