On the second day of the 4th Egyptian Women’s Summit, held under the patronage of Prime Minister Dr. Mostafa Madbouly, the session “From Ideation to Market” brought together leading entrepreneurs to provide practical guidance on transforming ideas into scalable and sustainable businesses.
The discussion highlighted real-world challenges faced in technology, digital commerce, and service sectors, with speakers sharing lessons learned from their entrepreneurial journeys, alongside actionable advice for students and recent graduates on building adaptive and market-focused careers.
Thndr: Making the Impossible Possible
On the other hand, Co-founder and CEO of Thndr,Ahmad Hamouda, emphasized that the platform is more than a trading tool—it is a vital mechanism for wealth protection and growth. Referencing the financial shocks of 2023, he explained that Thndr’s mission is to empower individuals to invest responsibly and avoid significant losses.
Hamouda recalled the company’s founding in 2019, noting that public skepticism about individual Egyptians’ ability to invest was a greater challenge than regulatory hurdles. The COVID-19 pandemic, however, created an unexpected acceleration, allowing Thndr to secure Egypt’s first brokerage license since 2008. Hamouda highlighted that this milestone validated the firm’s belief that every citizen has the right to invest and build wealth.
Shifting focus to personal development, Hamouda advised young professionals to measure success not by degrees or GPAs but by knowledge and understanding. He recommended studying the careers of global innovators like Steve Jobs, Elon Musk, and Jeff Bezos, warning against the false sense of accomplishment that comes from merely comparing oneself to peers. He also stressed the importance of mental and physical health, describing it as irreplaceable capital.
On fundraising, Hamouda noted that investment rounds rarely follow expectations, often requiring negotiations with dozens of investors, while ultimate support comes from unexpected sources. He cautioned against relying solely on bootstrapping except for side projects and concluded with a key principle: “Ideas that seem impossible or unusual often achieve the greatest success.”
SwipeX: Digitizing Corporate Spending
Ahmad Mokhtar, Co-founder and CEO of SwipeX, shared insights from launching his company, drawing on experience managing PlayStation 5 global operations in San Francisco. He explained how this exposure to international fintech practices inspired SwipeX’s mission: to end reliance on cash in businesses by digitizing corporate spending, providing smart card solutions for tracking expenses efficiently.
Mokhtar highlighted that the Egyptian Central Bank’s push for digital payments and financial licenses created an ideal environment for implementing these solutions, allowing SwipeX to address inefficiencies in corporate cash management while fostering trust through transparency.
Flash: Building Consumer Trust in Digital Payments
In this regard, Co-founder of Flash, Sherine Kabsh, recounted leaving a comfortable position in Dubai to start anew in Egypt, leveraging the CBE’s fintech initiatives. She emphasized that the challenge of cash dominance in Egypt stems not from preference for cash but from trust issues, and her company’s approach prioritizes user confidence by enabling secure, post-delivery digital payments.
Flash has since expanded beyond delivery to include in-store retail solutions, providing merchants with actionable insights through data analytics, enhancing both sales and customer experience. Kabsh described investor relationships as partnerships rooted in transparency, where each challenge is viewed as an opportunity.
HomezMart: Data-Driven E-Commerce Growth
Mohamed Shalaby, COO of HomzMart, highlighted the harsh realities of e-commerce in Egypt, revealing that only 1 in 15 online ventures survives beyond two years. He stressed the importance of accurate data interpretation and customer feedback over surface metrics, while advocating for focus and adaptability, particularly with AI integration, as key to business survival and expansion.
Shalaby also questioned conventional notions of work-life balance, emphasizing priority management and practical execution over rigid theoretical models.
Tactful AI: Leveraging AI for Growth
Mohamed Hassan, Co-founder and CEO of Tactful AI, shared his experience regaining control of the company after a previous acquisition, highlighting how generative AI can enhance productivity and business expansion without replacing employees. Hassan advised entrepreneurs to embrace challenges, exit comfort zones, and view exhaustion as a sign of growth and learning.
Empowering the Next Generation
The session was part of a broader summit that engaged government bodies, universities, private sector leaders, and international organizations. The event also included a strategic partnership with MSMEDA to create long-term programs supporting youth entrepreneurship, integrating innovation, technology, and STEM into the national economy, and fostering sustainable job opportunities.
Through over 100 specialized workshops and sessions, participants explored the future of work, essential skills for emerging industries, and the integration of AI and STEM education into professional pathways, providing a bridge between academia and the private sector.
