Alexandria – Hundreds of young Egyptian entrepreneurs participated in a three-day competition designed to educate and motivate them as they develop new businesses at Start-Up Weekend Alexandria.  Several sponsors, including Tahrir2, Cloud7Labs, Facilia, and Flat 6 Labs, collaborated with the U.S. government to host the event, which took place September 27-29 at the Radisson Blu Hotel in Alexandria.

During the weekend, aspiring entrepreneurs formed twenty-four teams to develop and pitch ideas to start new businesses and then worked together to refine their business models, develop working prototypes, and present their final ideas.  Some of these teams will go on to create new business ventures that will create new jobs and contribute to the growth of the Egyptian economy.

“These Start-Up Weekends in Alexandria allow us to highlight the importance that entrepreneurship plays in driving increases in productivity, job creation, and economic growth in Egypt,” stated Jennifer Walsh, U.S. Acting Consul General in Alexandria, during the Weekend’s opening ceremony. “The twenty-four Egyptian teams that are here today have the talent and opportunity to help build the foundation of a thriving, stable economy for Alexandria and for Egypt.”

This is the second Start-Up Weekend held in Alexandria.  Last year’s event helped launch seven new businesses, including three that are owned by women.

The event is part of a program sponsored by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the U.S. Department of State Global Entrepreneurship Program (GEP) which helps start, grow, and facilitate financing for entrepreneurs in Egypt.