Embassy of Netherlands in Egypt Launches Incubator Programmes in Cairo and Assiut
The Dutch initiative will emphasise gender parity through the programme, with a 50% of the cohort of entrepreneurs being women.
The Embassy of the Netherlands in Egypt has launched a new entrepreneurial programme dedicated to fortify young entrepreneurs and their ventures in Cairo and Upper Egypt’s Assiut. The Dutch initiative, titled ‘Orange Corners’, is an incubation platform that equips budding founders with the training, network and facility to get their startup off the ground.
While the six-month programme is open to 15 entrepreneurs per cycle, the training portion of the incubator is setting a standard of 50% participation of women entrepreneurs, and with a keen attention given to agriculture and creative startups.
“The Kingdom of the Netherlands promotes an ambitious aid, trade and investment policy aimed at finding win-win solutions globally. Entrepreneurship plays a vital role: it contributes to innovation and reduction of unemployment. Young entrepreneurs around the globe have proven to be risk-takers that dare to drive change, often with limited resources. Above all, they create their own job instead of seeking for one. Orange Corners provides support to these entrepreneurs in developing their ideas and personal skills,” says ambassador Laurens Westhoff.
The training will be co-chaired by Cultiv in Cairo and Outreach Egypt in Upper Egypt. Industry leaders and veteran entrepreneurs will be leading the programme, bringing their long-running experience into the mix to be at the entrepreneurs’ disposal. ''We are offering a creative environment for entrepreneurs to network with like-minded individuals and to start and grow their businesses through a state-of-the art facility and a coworking space in Assiut,” says Dalia El Nazer, Business Development Director & Co-Founder of Outreach Egypt. “We will be supporting the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Upper Egypt, and providing opportunities for youth to turn their innovative ideas into sustainable businesses.''
Orange Corners will be running in September, with applications for Cairo and Assiut-based entrepreneurs open now.
