EdVentures Founder Dalia Ibrahim Honored by AUC Venture Lab for Advancing Egypt”s Startup Ecosystem
CAIRO – Dalia Ibrahim, Founder and CEO of EdVentures and CEO of Nahdet Misr Group, has been awarded the V-Lab Award by The American University in Cairo's Venture Lab (AUC Venture Lab) in recognition of her outstanding contributions to strengthening Egypt's entrepreneurship ecosystem and supporting innovation across the region.
The award recognizes leaders whose sustained efforts have played a transformative role in empowering entrepreneurs, fostering innovation, and building a more dynamic startup ecosystem. Presented by one of the Middle East and Africa's leading university-based startup accelerators, the honor highlights Ibrahim's long-standing commitment to advancing education, entrepreneurship, and human capital development.
Under Ibrahim's leadership, Nahdet Misr has evolved into an integrated learning ecosystem, while EdVentures has become one of the MENA region's pioneering corporate venture capital funds focused on education technology (EdTech). The company supports startups through funding, strategic mentorship, market access, partnerships, and ecosystem-building initiatives across Egypt, Africa, and the Middle East.
Commenting on the recognition, Ibrahim said receiving the award from AUC Venture Lab carries special significance given the accelerator's influential role in shaping Egypt's entrepreneurial landscape.
"As education and workforce needs continue to evolve, our responsibility extends beyond investing in startups to building ecosystems where entrepreneurs can innovate, scale, and create lasting impact," she said. "I am grateful to AUC Venture Lab for this recognition and remain optimistic about the next generation of founders who are shaping the future of education and human capital across our region."
The latest recognition comes shortly after EdVentures was named Global Investor of the Year at the Global Startup Awards 2026, following its earlier recognition as MENA and Africa Investor of the Year. The company was selected from more than 70,000 applicants representing 62 countries, highlighting its growing influence in supporting innovation-driven startups and education-focused ventures.
Since its establishment in 2017, EdVentures has supported 108 startups and invested in 29 companies operating across more than 25 countries. Its portfolio companies have collectively reached tens of millions of learners while contributing to the creation of more than 52,000 jobs, reinforcing the firm's mission of empowering entrepreneurs addressing the future of education, employability, and lifelong learning.
Founded in 2013, AUC Venture Lab is Egypt's first university-based startup accelerator and has supported more than 1,000 entrepreneurs and 400 startups through mentorship, training, investor access, and strategic networking. The accelerator has received multiple regional and international recognitions for its contribution to entrepreneurship development across Egypt and the MENA region.