The third edition of “Waha Connect: Shaping the ICT Horizon” kicked off today at the Borg El Arab Technology Park, gathering an elite lineup of ICT industry leaders, entrepreneurs, experts, and students. The event comes as part of Silicon Waha’s ongoing commitment to empowering young talents and strengthening Egypt’s governorates as emerging hubs for digital innovation and entrepreneurship.
This year’s edition of “Waha Connect” showcases inspiring success stories from local startups and brings together distinguished speakers from both the public and private sectors. The event also features dynamic networking activities designed to foster collaboration, encourage partnerships, and unlock new investment opportunities.
This year, the event is proudly joined by Intelcia, the global leader in outsourcing services, as a strategic sponsor, reaffirming its commitment to creating direct employment opportunities for youth in Alexandria and beyond. Intelcia has set up a dedicated booth to recruit young talent among participants seeking career opportunities.
In parallel, the Information Technology Industry Development Agency (ITIDA) joins as a community partner, integrating the closing ceremony of the “Future Mobility & Sustainable Transportation Hackathon”, which offers total cash prizes of EGP 60,000 to three winning teams specializing in smart and sustainable transport solutions.
During his opening remarks, Mr. Hashem Mansi, CEO of Silicon Waha, stated:
“The third edition of Waha Connect marks a new milestone in our efforts to promote a culture of digital innovation beyond the capital. Through this platform, we aim to connect creative ideas with real growth opportunities. We firmly believe that the Borg El Arab Technology Park can serve as a launchpad for a thriving business community that supports Egypt’s digital economy and attracts fresh investment.”
From his side, Mr. Ahmed Youssef, General Manager of Intelcia Egypt, said:
“Our participation as a strategic partner in Waha Connect reflects our deep belief in the importance of investing in Egyptian youth. We are not only supporting the event but also opening doors for employment and professional development opportunities for local talents in Alexandria, while continuing to build a workplace culture centered on innovation and operational excellence.”
This year’s speaker lineup included:
• Mr. Ahmed Youssef, who delivered a presentation titled “Reimagining the Customer Experience: Intelcia’s Journey in Egypt’s Contact Center Industry”.
• Eng. Hossam Abdelkader, Head of the Central Department for Entrepreneurship at the General Authority for Investment (GAFI), highlighted the authority’s efforts to empower young innovators through the “Fekretak Sherketak” programs, which have supported over 150,000 entrepreneurs.
• Mr. Ahmed Abdallah, Chief Operating Officer at Egypt Post for Investment and Board Member at Silicon Waha, presented “From Ideas to Impact: Entrepreneurs’ Journey Toward Thriving SMEs in Egypt”, focusing on transforming innovation into business value and driving sustainable growth.
Among the participating startups in the hackathon were:
• Mina Tharwat, Founder and CEO of InsuCare, developed a smart insulin pump simulating the function of a natural pancreas.
• Mohamed Nasser, Founder and CEO of Prengo, is offering educational curricula and practical tools for children to learn the basics of engineering and programming.
• Reem Yasser, team leader of the Smart Ambulance project, which equips ambulances with software that transmits patient data to hospitals before arrival, including short video updates on first aid provided en route. The project received EGP 600,000 in funding through its participation in the “GEN-Z” program.
The winning team was “Etigah”, led by Eng. Osama Khaled, representing one of the event’s most inspiring innovation success stories in smart city applications. The project introduces an intelligent navigation solution that helps people “find their way anywhere.” It combines advanced indoor and outdoor navigation technologies, initially focusing on public spaces such as malls and hospitals, while integrating digital mapping with accessibility features to ensure smoother, more inclusive movement for all.
The event brought together over 250 participants, including 50 leading figures from the ICT sector and 200 university students, further cementing Waha Connect’s position as a leading platform shaping Egypt’s digital future.