Voices of Egypt – A Rising Tide for Entrepreneurship | TechWadi.org.

A very important event for Technology Innovation Leaders to attend

Your contributions is what will make it a success

The Rising Tide of Entrepreneurship
Cairo, Egypt – 25-26 October, 2010

An exciting opportunity is finally taking shape.

We now have a fixed date for the launch of a PlugandPlay (PnP) incubator in Cairo – an important step in our diasporas’ initiatives to promote entrepreneurship and innovation in Egypt. PlugandPlay will house hundreds of entrepreneurs in the next three years. Our focus will be on mentoring, financing and accelerating the growth of the most promising start-ups.

To celebrate and deliberate, we invite executives and high impact entrepreneurs to join us for an open dialogue on how to make the initiative a success. The proposed Agenda is as shown below:

Agenda

October 25, 2010 – Smart Village Cairo

10:00am – 2:00pm

• Entrepreneurship in Egypt: Current State of Affairs
  Egypt’s commitment to work with entrepreneurs, diasporas, and the private sector to create jobs and value: how real? How effective? 
• Silicon Valley Ecosystem: Will it Work in the Nile Valley?
  How to make the dreams of Egypt’s entrepreneurs come true by providing a complete ecosystem and interconnection with Silicon Valley. 
• Entrepreneurs: Challenges, Opportunities, and Aspirations
  Egypt’s best and brightest share their journey to launch, operate, and expand vibrant startups… and the challenges they face 
• Angel Financing, Venture Capital, and Private Equity
  Investors from Silicon Valley and Egypt discuss the creation of an effective Angel network and vibrant VC industry in Egypt and the resulting boom in entrepreneurship. 
• Emerging Opportunities: Mobile, Digital Media, and the Internet
  Leading CEOs and serial entrepreneurs from the US discuss lessons learnt and targeted advice for Egyptian business leaders on the rise.

Register Now for the Rising Tide Forum

Approval Needed – Apply Early

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October 26, 2010 – AUC New Cairo Campus

10:30am – 4:30pm

• TechWadi-AUC Mentorship Roundtable [Private Session]
  30 pre-selected entrepreneurs meet 20 TechWadi 100 Mentors from Silicon Valley and the region to discuss challenges and opportunities. Companies presenting are at various stages of development and meet some minium requirements. 
• Mentorship for High Impact Entrepreneurs [Private Session]
  Mentors will engage with entrepreneurs depending on personal affinity and may provide 1-on-1 coaching, education, sponsorship at PnP Silicon Valley, internships, and/or angel financing. 
• Leadership Panel: The Promise of Entrepreneurship for Egypt
  The TechWadi delegation from Silicon Valley will discuss the promise of entrepreneurship in Egypt and the role local leaders must play to ensure a vibrant and thriving ecosystem.
  – 3:00-4:30PM, advance registration required, below
  – Open to business leaders, executives, and Alumni of AUC 

   

  Register Now for the Leadership Panel

  Approval Needed – Apply Early

As recovering economies seek to create jobs, spur innovation, and remain competitive globally, entrepreneurship has rightly been recognized as the engine of future growth. TechWadi is a California-registered non-profit organization seeking to build bridges between the United States and the MENA region in order to promote entrepreneurship and foster economic development. TechWadi is leading a grass-roots movement pioneered by Silicon Valley-based diasporas to provide effective, targeted business mentorship, support, and angel financing to high impact entrepreneurs. 

The Technology Innovation and Entrepreneurship Center (TIEC) was formed in association with academia, the government, and the private sector to develop and support Egypt’s workforce through educational, technological and financial resources. As part of the IEC, viable ICT start-ups can receive support such as funding space in the Smart Village incubator buildings, expertise in taking a product or service to market, and help with intellectual property protection. 

The American University in Cairo (AUC) is a premier institution of higher learning. The university is committed to teaching and research of the highest caliber, and offers exceptional liberal arts and professional education in a cross-cultural environment. AUC builds a culture of leadership, lifelong learning, continuing education and service among its graduates, and is dedicated to making significant contributions to Egypt and the international community in diverse fields.  Chartered and accredited in the USA and Egypt, it is an independent, non-profit, equal-opportunity institution.

PlugandPlayTechCenter is Silicon Valley’s leading incubator, having helped 500+ startups raise $750M+ and contributed to notable successes including PayPal. On October 25, PlugandPlay will launch the first PlugandPlay Cairo incubator as the center of a region-wide support structure. At PlugandPlay Cairo, entrepreneurs will freely exchange ideas and mentors will share their knowledge and experience. Each PnP will have resident corporate partners, venture capitalists, banks, and other partners – these groups enrich the incubator ecosystem as clients, suppliers, financiers, or partners, but also reap benefits themselves from their proximity to a source of high-quality start-ups.