In a powerful testament to Egypt’s evolving entrepreneurial landscape, Orange Corners Egypt celebrated the graduation of 100 startups from its 2025 Delta cohort during a high-profile ceremony hosted at the Dutch Embassy in Cairo. The event was held under the distinguished patronage of Dr. Rania Al-Mashat, Egypt’s Minister of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, and Amb. Peter Mollema of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, in collaboration with a consortium of private sector partners.
At the heart of the celebration lies a critical message: investing in youth-led innovation and women’s entrepreneurship is indispensable to Egypt’s sustainable economic transformation. This initiative, which supports early-stage entrepreneurs through a suite of training, mentorship, and investment facilitation, aligns closely with Egypt’s Vision 2030 and the broader United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
A Bold Commitment to Women in Innovation
Among the 100 startups launched in this inaugural Delta cohort, 52 are led by women—a compelling reflection of the program’s strategic commitment to gender inclusion and economic empowerment. The program has not only ensured that women constitute over half of its participants, but has also created an ecosystem where female entrepreneurs are mentored to lead across sectors often dominated by male counterparts.
“This is not just about startups—it’s about systemic change,” said Dr. Rania Al-Mashat during the ceremony. “By embedding entrepreneurship and innovation into our development framework, and ensuring that women are central to this process, we are creating a future where economic participation is equitable, resilient, and dynamic.”
The graduating companies span high-impact sectors, including agritech, food innovation, green entrepreneurship, climate-smart solutions, education, health, and the creative industries—areas deemed vital to Egypt’s long-term economic competitiveness.
Investing in Inclusive, Sustainable Growth
Orange Corners is more than a training program. It is a comprehensive platform designed to support scalable and sustainable businesses. Participants receive structured business development training, personalized mentorship, access to local and international investor networks, and ongoing post-incubation support.
What makes the Delta 2025 cohort particularly significant is its geographic focus on underrepresented governorates including Alexandria, Beheira, Kafr El-Sheikh, Dakahlia, and Menoufia. The program is poised to expand its reach further into Upper Egypt, with an additional 30 startups planned in governorates such as Assiut and Luxor later this year.
Each graduating business is expected to generate between two to five direct jobs, with estimates indicating that the initiative could create over 3,000 direct and indirect employment opportunities in 2025 alone.
A Global Vision Rooted in Local Impact
Launched in 2021, Orange Corners Egypt is part of a broader initiative spearheaded by the Dutch government and implemented locally by Outreach Egypt, with support from key corporate stakeholders. The program targets aspiring entrepreneurs aged 18–35, particularly those in marginalized communities. It contributes directly to five UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Quality Education (4), Gender Equality (5), Decent Work and Economic Growth (8), Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure (9), and Climate Action (13).
Amb. Peter Mollema emphasized during the graduation: “The Netherlands believes in the transformative power of youth and innovation. Through Orange Corners, we are building bridges between our two nations to foster inclusive growth, empower women, and promote sustainable development.”
In Egypt, initiatives like Orange Corners are not merely accelerators of business—they are catalysts of structural change, reshaping the economic narrative with a bold emphasis on women, equity, and long-term prosperity.
