Silicon Waha
the leading joint-stock company dedicated to building and managing technology parks, proudly announced the successful conclusion of its inaugural quarterly event, “Waha Connect,” held at New Assiut Technology Park. Under the theme of “Shaping the ICT Horizon,” the event united key stakeholders from Egypt’s ICT ecosystem, celebrating local achievements, fostering innovation, and setting the stage for future growth.
The first edition of “Waha Connect” featured an inspiring lineup of sessions and discussions, drawing over 220 participants, including entrepreneurs, startups, investors, industry professionals, and technology enthusiasts. Attendees engaged in knowledge-sharing and networking, exploring cutting-edge advancements in ICT and the potential for collaborative growth in the region.
Event Highlights:
• Keynote Speeches: Distinguished speakers addressed pivotal topics in the ICT sector.
o Dr. Ayman Ayyad, Assiut Branch Manager at ITI, emphasized empowering freelancers and unlocking opportunities in Egypt’s talent economy. He showcased ITI’s remarkable success, highlighting a 100% retention rate among students entering freelancing, with 90% securing job opportunities.
o Dr. Ahmed Mohamed Dahe, Branch Manager at TIEC/ ITIDA, provided insights into fostering a culture of innovation through TIEC, empowering students to identify and pursue opportunities.
o Ms. Mariam Soliman, Founder of Learning Rockets, spotlighted the transformative power of gamification in education, emphasizing her startup’s reliance on local female talents and ITI-trained professionals.
o Eng. Andrew Saber, FinTech Specialist, explored the growing FinTech industry, highlighting its role in advancing CRM and ERP systems.
o Eng. Ahmed Hassan, CEO of Sal7ly, shared his entrepreneurial journey, showcasing how Assiut’s supportive ecosystem enabled him to secure a 6 million EGP investment from Shark Tank.
• Entrepreneurship and Innovation: Speakers underscored the pivotal role of New Assiut Technology Park as a hub for talent development, innovation, and collaboration, reinforcing its importance in driving Egypt’s ICT growth.
• Special Guest Appearance: Eng. Mohamed Salem, Chairman of SICO, captivated the audience with the story behind Egypt’s first locally manufactured mobile phone, shedding light on SICO’s future plans for electronic device manufacturing.
Reflecting on the event, Mr. Hashem Mansy, CEO of Silicon Waha, stated, “We are thrilled with the overwhelming response to the first edition of ‘Waha Connect.’ This event has not only reinforced our commitment to fostering innovation and collaboration but also demonstrated the immense potential within Egypt’s ICT ecosystem. We look forward to continuing this journey and building on the success of this event in future editions.”
The event also showcased the impactful work of Assiut’s tech innovators, highlighting groundbreaking solutions and success stories that demonstrated the region’s growing influence in the technology landscape.
Looking Ahead: Building on the momentum of this successful launch, Silicon Waha will continue to host “Waha Connect” events quarterly, rotating across its technology parks to further strengthen regional ICT ecosystems and drive Egypt’s digital transformation.
