Ashraf AboArafe
In a hall where ambition met opportunity, the U.S. Embassy in Cairo joined hands with the American University in Cairo’s (AUC) Venture Lab, under the Onsi Sawiris School of Business, to host the annual SelectUSA Tech Pitch Competition—an event that transformed bold ideas into bridges stretching from the Nile to the Potomac.
Sixteen Egyptian emerging tech entrepreneurs stepped forward to pitch their innovations before a distinguished panel of experts, competing for the opportunity to travel to the United States and participate in the prestigious SelectUSA Investment Summit.
This year’s winners—“Untap” and “Tijara Hub”—earned their place on the global stage, while “Hiroy” and “Plan Q” received honorable mentions in recognition of their promising ventures. The two winning startups will now represent Egypt on the SelectUSA Tech stage at the upcoming SelectUSA Investment Summit in National Harbor, Maryland, from May 3–6, joining other Egyptian startups that choose to register and fund their participation independently.
“I am deeply impressed with the Egyptian entrepreneurs presenting at this year’s competition. These companies have the potential to drive transformative, real-world outcomes,” said U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Evyenia Sidereas during the ceremony. “We hope that pairing talented Egyptian innovators with cutting-edge U.S. technology-sector entrepreneurs will produce huge economic wins for both our countries.”
Beyond competition, the event offered invaluable exposure and professional growth. This year’s judging panel brought together expertise from FinBi, Venture Capital, Alex Angels, Entreprenelle, AUC Venture Lab, and the U.S. Embassy in Cairo. Nominating partners included Mint Incubator, Den Venture, and Flat6Labs—key pillars in Egypt’s dynamic startup ecosystem.
The SelectUSA Tech Pitch Competition underscores the United States’ commitment to empowering technology-driven startups worldwide seeking entry into the U.S. market. It also reaffirms America’s global leadership in advanced technologies and innovation. Egyptian startups that have participated in previous editions have gone on to gain U.S. recognition and expand internationally, supported by the SelectUSA platform.
SelectUSA Tech operates under the U.S. Department of Commerce’s SelectUSA program, offering international startups direct access to American investors, market-entry guidance, and high-impact networking opportunities. While winning the pitch competition offers a distinct advantage, entrepreneurs may still participate by registering and covering their own travel costs.
To qualify, startups must be founded outside the United States, develop an innovative technology product or service, and be pursuing near-term U.S. market entry or expansion. They must also meet core startup criteria: less than 10 years old, fewer than 40 employees, and annual revenue under $10 million.
From Cairo’s incubators to Maryland’s investment halls, the journey of these entrepreneurs reflects a larger narrative—one where Egyptian ingenuity meets global capital, and where ideas born on the banks of the Nile find resonance across oceans.
