Startup Gate Launches Second Phase to Strengthen Egypt’s Entrepreneurship Ecosystem
Startup Gate, the digital platform supporting Egypt’s entrepreneurship ecosystem, has announced the launch of its second phase, marking a new step toward enhancing efficiency, connectivity, and collaboration across the startup landscape.
The second phase builds on the success of the platform’s initial launch, which helped establish a diverse community of startups across multiple sectors, alongside mentors, investors, and ecosystem partners.
Startup Gate was founded by Egyptian entrepreneurs Amy Tawfik and Sara Khalifa, with backing from an angel investor network affiliated with M-Empire, in response to a clear gap in Egypt’s startup ecosystem. Despite its vibrancy, the ecosystem has long suffered from fragmentation and scattered information, leading to missed collaboration opportunities and leaving many promising startups outside the spotlight.
Since its inception, Startup Gate has positioned itself as more than a digital platform. It is a practical initiative designed to simplify early-stage startups’ access to support, knowledge, and relevant connections through a unified gateway that brings ecosystem stakeholders together in a trusted, high-quality environment.
The first phase, launched in October 2025, included startups, mentors, and investors, attracting more than 750 startups, mentors, investors, and partners. Membership is expected to reach 3,000 by the end of 2026.
The platform adopts an inclusive approach, welcoming startups from the idea stage through growth across sectors such as fintech, healthtech, edtech, e-commerce, and supply chain solutions. At the same time, Startup Gate maintains a curated environment by reviewing all startups, mentors, and opportunities before listing them.
With the launch of the second phase, Startup Gate has expanded to include entrepreneurship support organizations, such as incubators and accelerators, in addition to service providers and investment institutions, enabling deeper collaboration and stronger ecosystem integration.
Amy Tawfik, Founder and CEO of Startup Gate, said the platform was designed to be a true gateway that allows entrepreneurs to access what they need without complexity or confusion, describing the second phase as a pivotal step toward a more connected and effective ecosystem.
Co-founder and Chief Marketing Officer Sara Khalifa emphasized that the strength of any startup ecosystem lies not in the number of initiatives, but in the quality of connections between them, noting that the second phase aims to create a central hub supporting the sustainable growth of Egyptian startups.
Looking ahead, Startup Gate plans to expand its mentor network locally and internationally and join a global network adopting mentorship methodologies developed by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. The platform also plans to launch nine specialized accelerator programs in 2026, in partnership with Startup Egypt, covering sectors such as fintech, healthtech, education, and supply chains.
Participating startups are expected to attract up to EGP 450 million in investments through M-Empire’s angel investor network. Startup Gate also plans to scale its events, partnerships, and ecosystem activities throughout 2026.