Key Takeaways
- • Egypt's Planning and Economic Development Minister Ahmed Rostom met senior executives of leading US venture capital funds and investment institutions in Washington, DC, after the B20 Summit 2026, to explore foreign private-sector investment into Egypt's start-up sector.
- • Rostom outlined a planned financing initiative by the Ministry of Planning and Economic Development that includes a dedicated fund to support Egyptian start-ups and entrepreneurs as they scale.
- • The initiative is linked to the Qimam programme, which targets high-growth start-ups, and is framed as aligned with presidential directives and recommendations from Egypt Forum 2026.
- • The minister stressed that financing alone is insufficient and must be paired with investment-readiness support, management capacity building, and corporate governance standards.
- • Rostom invited US funds and investment institutions to participate in investment funds targeting Egyptian start-ups.
Summary
Egypt's Planning and Economic Development Minister Ahmed Rostom held a series of meetings with senior executives from leading US venture capital funds and investment institutions at the close of his participation in the B20 Summit 2026 in Washington, DC. The discussions focused on ways to attract foreign private-sector investment into Egypt's entrepreneurship and start-up sector, according to the Daily News Egypt report.
Rostom met with Bobby Franklin, President and CEO of the US National Venture Capital Association (NVCA), and Brad Fierstein, Partner and Co-Head of Corporate Solutions for the Americas and Head of Deal Origination at Apollo Infrastructure Group. During the meetings he outlined the main features of a comprehensive financing initiative the ministry plans to launch, including a dedicated fund to support start-ups and entrepreneurs. The initiative aims to broaden access to financing for promising Egyptian companies, strengthen their capacity to scale, and draw more capital into the innovation ecosystem, in line with presidential directives and the recommendations of Egypt Forum 2026.
Rostom described financing as a tool to stimulate investment by matching companies' funding needs with their stages of growth. He said the proposed fund would address funding gaps that start-ups face as they move from product development and business-model testing to commercial expansion and entry into regional and international markets. He also linked the initiative to the Qimam programme, which is designed to support high-growth start-ups with significant economic potential.
The minister stressed that financing alone is insufficient and must be complemented by investment-readiness support, management capacity development, and adoption of corporate governance standards, which would help companies access international investor networks. He invited representatives of US funds and investment institutions to take part in investment funds targeting Egyptian start-ups, and emphasised the market's promising opportunities and innovative talent.
Rostom also attended an official dinner hosted by the Advisory Council of the American Chamber of Commerce, which brought together representatives of major US companies and Egyptian entrepreneurs living abroad. Discussions covered deepening economic, trade and investment relations between Egypt and the United States and measures to accelerate trade flows. He further outlined Egypt's National Economic Transformation Programme and encouraged investors to expand operations in Egypt amid ongoing government reforms.
Rostom met with Bobby Franklin, President and CEO of the US National Venture Capital Association (NVCA), and Brad Fierstein, Partner and Co-Head of Corporate Solutions for the Americas and Head of Deal Origination at Apollo Infrastructure Group. During the meetings he outlined the main features of a comprehensive financing initiative the ministry plans to launch, including a dedicated fund to support start-ups and entrepreneurs. The initiative aims to broaden access to financing for promising Egyptian companies, strengthen their capacity to scale, and draw more capital into the innovation ecosystem, in line with presidential directives and the recommendations of Egypt Forum 2026.
Rostom described financing as a tool to stimulate investment by matching companies' funding needs with their stages of growth. He said the proposed fund would address funding gaps that start-ups face as they move from product development and business-model testing to commercial expansion and entry into regional and international markets. He also linked the initiative to the Qimam programme, which is designed to support high-growth start-ups with significant economic potential.
The minister stressed that financing alone is insufficient and must be complemented by investment-readiness support, management capacity development, and adoption of corporate governance standards, which would help companies access international investor networks. He invited representatives of US funds and investment institutions to take part in investment funds targeting Egyptian start-ups, and emphasised the market's promising opportunities and innovative talent.
Rostom also attended an official dinner hosted by the Advisory Council of the American Chamber of Commerce, which brought together representatives of major US companies and Egyptian entrepreneurs living abroad. Discussions covered deepening economic, trade and investment relations between Egypt and the United States and measures to accelerate trade flows. He further outlined Egypt's National Economic Transformation Programme and encouraged investors to expand operations in Egypt amid ongoing government reforms.
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