Ashraf AboArafe
Nine student-led startups turn the 12th African University Games into a platform for innovation, entrepreneurship, and cross-border opportunity
Capital University did more than participate in the 12th African University Games “Cairo 2026”; it transformed its presence into a living showcase of student innovation, entrepreneurship, and ambition—bringing ideas born on campus into an African arena where students, entrepreneurs, academics, and institutions converged.
At the innovation and entrepreneurship events accompanying the Games and hosted by the British University in Egypt, nine Capital University startups and student projects took center stage: CHANGER-Tech, BioSpark, BioSilkNova, Nabd Misr, Rehla, SITX, SIA Dynamics, Hydrogena, and Tagmeaa.
The participation was sponsored by Prof. El-Sayed Qandil, President of Capital University; Prof. Noha Nabil, Advisor to the University President for Innovation and Entrepreneurship; and Prof. Mohamed Abdel Aziz, Dean of the Faculty of Science. It was supervised by Dr. Ehab Abdel Raouf, Director of the Technology Incubators Office and Academic Supervisor of the Rally – Capital University initiative.
The nine teams, incubated by Biocluster, one of the technology incubators within the Intilaq Program of the Academy of Scientific Research and Technology, were given a valuable opportunity to move their ideas beyond the university environment and present their projects, products, and prototypes to a diverse audience of students, university delegations, entrepreneurs, academics, and specialists in innovation and entrepreneurship.
Their participation coincided with the African Scientific Conference on University Sports “Cairo 2026,” bringing together prominent figures from the worlds of higher education, science, and sport. Among those attending were Prof. Abdelaziz Qanswa, Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research and Acting Minister of Culture; Dr. Mohamed Lotfy, President of the British University in Egypt; Prof. Ashraf Sobhy, President of the African University Sports Federation; and Mr. Leonz Eder, President of the International University Sports Federation, alongside university presidents, academics, educational and sports leaders, and representatives of universities and sports federations from across Africa.
Innovation Beyond the Classroom
Capital University’s engagement extended beyond exhibition and networking. The university also contributed to the training dimension of the event through the “Business Analysis for Tech Startups” program, designed to help participants understand user and market needs, identify real-world problems, and analyze opportunities for technology-driven solutions.
The Capital University booth offered another window into the university’s vision: student talent should not remain confined to classrooms or laboratories. Alongside athletic and academic achievement, students can also represent their university through innovative, scalable ventures capable of reaching wider communities and markets.
Through Rally – Capital University, the university continues to connect students with training opportunities, competitions, incubators, mentors, and specialized expertise designed to help transform promising ideas into more mature and sustainable projects.
From Ideas to Opportunity
The experience demonstrated that fostering entrepreneurship in higher education is about more than workshops, competitions, or training sessions. It is about creating real opportunities for students to put their ideas before the world, test their projects beyond familiar surroundings, receive meaningful feedback, and build relationships with new markets and entrepreneurial communities.
At “Cairo 2026,” nine student-led ventures carried that message beyond the walls of Capital University—turning young ideas into African-facing opportunities and campus innovation into a bridge toward the future.
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