Luxor – Over 150 entrepreneurs, 20 mentors, four judges, and U.S. and Egyptian government officials participated in the Luxor StartUp Weekend entrepreneurship competition from March 6-8, 2014.

This U.S. government-sponsored competition connected entrepreneurs with mentors for hands-on training on creating business plans and launching businesses.  During this 54-hour weekend event, entrepreneurs worked in teams to transform their creative ideas into business models.  On the last day, teams participated in a business pitch competition in which the winners received awards varying from business incubation to receiving seed capital that will help in building their start-up companies.

“The U.S. Government believes in the importance of entrepreneurship and innovation in driving Egypt’s economy forward,” said Dr. William Patterson, Economic Growth Director at USAID/Egypt.  “In the past four years, the U.S. Agency for International Development - USAID - has helped thousands of aspiring entrepreneurs turn their ideas into action. These businesses will create jobs and add value to the Egyptian economy.”

Prior to StartUp Weekend, USAID hosted an entrepreneurship awareness session that targeted South Valley university students and graduates. Attended by more than 300 students, the one-day session provided potential entrepreneurs with inspiring stories from Egyptian entrepreneurs and mentors, as well as information about the upcoming StartUp Weekend in Luxor.

The U.S. Government, through USAID, supports Egypt’s economic growth by supporting entrepreneurs and employment creation. To date, USAID has helped launch 63 start-up companies in Egypt – 18 of which are owned by women - and helped provide better full-time employment for over 40,000 people and short-term jobs for another 20,000 workers.