GrowthLabs Acquires Startup Gate to Build Integrated Digital Ecosystem for MENA Startups
GrowthLabs, a leading developer of integrated digital ecosystems, has announced its acquisition of Startup Gate. The transaction aims to deliver comprehensive solutions tailored for entrepreneurs and startups while supporting and developing the broader regional entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The acquisition merges two strategic arms under a single umbrella: the Startup Gate platform, a vital hub connecting founders, investors, service providers, and consultants; and Catalyst OS, GrowthLabs’ proprietary advanced digital operating system designed to empower business incubators, accelerators, and entrepreneurial programs to manage and precisely measure their impact. This integration aims to revolutionize how startups are discovered and supported through a unified digital platform that bridges the entrepreneurial community, data analytics, and execution mechanisms.
The unified platform will serve a broad base of partners, including corporations seeking to bolster institutional innovation, universities, angel investors, and venture capital (VC) funds. This positions GrowthLabs as a strategic partner for governments implementing digital transformation policies to drive economic growth. The transaction was strategically brokered by M-Empire, marking a milestone in its efforts to fortify the region's innovation infrastructure.
Through this acquisition, GrowthLabs establishes a first-of-its-kind entity that combines the power of the entrepreneurial community with advanced technological solutions. The company plans to expand its operations into new countries across the Gulf and Africa during 2026. The integration provides real-time data and analytics covering the entire startup lifecycle, ensuring a seamless pathway from initial incorporation to full investment readiness.
Commenting on the acquisition, Eslam Mohamed, CEO of GrowthLabs, stated: "This acquisition reflects our vision of building an integrated entrepreneurial ecosystem that delivers a tangible impact on the broader economy. Our goal is to create a systemic and sustainable impact through an operating system that supports a company's journey from ideation to scaling." He added that integrating GrowthLabs’ technology with the Startup Gate network will provide data-driven solutions, enabling government and private sector partners to achieve measurable outcomes.
As part of its 2026 strategy, GrowthLabs plans to launch seven flagship corporate innovation programs and inaugurate the first cross-border regional entrepreneurial community in the MENA region to facilitate the flow of investment opportunities and human capital.
Maged Ghoneima, Co-founder and Managing Partner at M-Empire, commented: "This acquisition represents a historic step in our strategy to eliminate fragmentation within the MENA startup scene. With our portfolio expanding to over 200 startups globally, we recognize that a unified digital infrastructure is the only viable path to accelerate investment readiness at scale."
Amy Tawfik, Founder of Startup Gate and newly appointed COO of GrowthLabs Holding, remarked: "We are transitioning from a platform that connects founders to opportunities into the region’s first fully integrated digital infrastructure for entrepreneurship in collaboration with GrowthLabs and Catalyst OS."
GrowthLabs boasts a strong track record, having successfully executed over 60 international programs and supported more than 5,000 startups across diverse markets including Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Pakistan, and South America, through close partnerships with government entities, academic institutions, and international development organizations.