As part of Shell Egypt’s commitment to youth empowerment, Dalia Elgabry, Vice President and Country Chair of Shell Egypt, led the celebrations at the Intilaaqah Annual Awards Ceremony on May 29, 2024. The event marked the successful conclusion of a transformative entrepreneurial programme that supported over 1,000 young innovators across Egypt.
At the centre of the initiative—and of the evening’s remarks—was Elgabry’s steadfast belief in the power of entrepreneurship to drive long-term economic resilience and social progress. Under her leadership, Shell Egypt has deepened its investment in youth-focused initiatives, aligning closely with Egypt’s Vision 2030 and the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
“At Shell, powering lives means more than providing energy—it means creating opportunities for people to thrive,” Elgabry said during the ceremony. “By nurturing Egypt’s young entrepreneurs, we are investing in the country’s long-term resilience, innovation ecosystem, and inclusive growth.”
The Shell Intilaaqah Egypt Program, delivered in partnership with Flat6Labs, operated across Cairo, Alexandria, and Beheira, and empowered more than 120 start-up teams through bootcamps, mentoring, ideation sessions, and business development support. The programme concluded with the recognition of six standout start-ups, awarded for their innovative solutions and market potential.
But beyond the awards, the evening was a tribute to Elgabry’s vision of corporate social investment as a strategic driver of sustainable development. She has positioned Shell Egypt not merely as an energy provider, but as a catalyst for human potential—particularly among Egypt’s rising generation of entrepreneurs.
“Our global strategy, Powering Progress, is about building a cleaner energy future while supporting the people and communities we work in,” Elgabry noted. “The Intilaaqah programme reflects that commitment—one that sees local talent not just as beneficiaries, but as architects of Egypt’s future.”
Under Elgabry’s stewardship, Shell Egypt has consistently prioritized inclusive access to opportunity. This year’s Intilaaqah cycle included online training modules to ensure participants from diverse and underserved areas could benefit. The programme also launched two distinct tracks—Best Idea Program and Best Startup Program—to cater to early-stage and growth-stage entrepreneurs respectively.
The winning teams were:
Best Idea Programme
- Fast Octopus
- BananaMed
- Gremrem
Best Startup Programme
- Oz Tech
- Bekya Pay
- Croptimus
Throughout the programme, participants were immersed in intensive sessions on entrepreneurial mindset development, value proposition creation, and business model refinement—all critical tools for building sustainable ventures in a rapidly evolving economy.
Hany Al Sonbaty, Chairman and Co-Founder of Flat6Labs, echoed Elgabry’s sentiments, stating that “Dalia’s leadership and commitment to real impact are evident in every phase of this program. Together, we’ve built a platform that not only launches businesses but uplifts communities.”
With Shell Egypt’s broader Social Investment portfolio continuing to expand, Dalia Elgabry remains a pivotal figure in redefining corporate leadership in Egypt—not just in the energy sector, but in how businesses contribute to human and national development.
In Elgabry’s words, “The energy of Egypt’s youth is among the country’s most valuable resources. Our role is to ensure they have every opportunity to ignite it.”
