CiviConnectors: Empowering innovators and tech startups to develop citizen-centric solutions in Egypt | Transportation and Urban Development Track

Empowering tech-focused innovators and startups in the Egyptian CivicTech sector

The CiviConnectors support program is dedicated to pushing forward progress in the CivicTech ecosystem in Egypt by building a collaborative support network and providing direct financial and training support for tech-enabled startups. The purpose is to develop citizen-centric solutions that can enhance the engagement of Egyptian citizens with digital public services and create a seamless experience.

CiviConnectors are the program’s participating tech-enabled startups and innovators that aim to transform their digital prototypes into scalable and sustainable solutions that help improve the quality of life for citizens by enhancing availability and usability of digital public services across vital aspects, including healthcare, urban development, and transportation. 

The program comprises two stages:

• • Stage 1: Idea competition
    15 teams of growing startups, business founders, and innovators will be selected from the received applications to participate in a nationwide idea competition. The Idea Competition is a one-day event planned to take place in Cairo on 20 Jan. 2024. To perfect their presentations, the selected teams will attend a virtual bootcamp planned to take place online on 12 -13 Jan. 2024, prior to joining the Idea Competition.

• • Stage 2: Six-month incubator
    Through the idea competition, 6 teams will be selected to join a 6-month incubator where each business founder will receive direct financial support of EUR 600 per month, along with dedicated mentoring and a comprehensive training program.

The first track of the program will support innovators and tech startups in transportation and urban development.

15 ideas for 2 main challenges

A nationwide call for tech startups and tech-focused innovators is now open to solving, directly or indirectly, the following challenges in urban development and transportation:

1. Innovating in the Egyptian transport system — Develop digital solutions/services that contribute to sustainable mobility, increased capacity, or help provide a seamless experience for public transportation in Egypt
2. Innovating in Egypt’s urban growth management — Develop digital technologies/tools to improve urban planning and management to further accommodate the population and improve the quality of life

The challenges were identified by relevant experts, academics, and stakeholders in the CiviConnectors network.

Download this document for more details about the challenges and eligibility criteria.

Who are the CiviConnectors?

CiviConnectors are innovators and business owners with medium, high-fidelity, or functional digital prototypes that can be applied on the national level to improve the citizens’ everyday lives, enhance their engagement with public services, and push forward the CivicTech sector in Egypt.

CiviConnectors is the right program for you if you are a team of up to five members who are: 

• Operating a growing tech startup that is based in Egypt and founded after 2010, or
• Graduated from an Egyptian or internationally recognized university within the last seven years, or 
• Currently enrolled in a program at an Egyptian university

In order to qualify for the idea competition, the first step of the CiviConnectors program, your team should have an existing prototype for a digital solution that: 

• is tackling one of the focus challenges directly or indirectly;
• can be presented in a medium, high-fidelity, or working simulation;
• is innovative or disruptive characteristics that do not exist in the market, and
• has the potential to be scaled-up and marketed commercially;
• the potential to generate social and economic impact, such as improving citizens’ lives and/ or enhancing citizen engagement

In addition to fulfilling all the criteria above, your Team Lead should also:

• legally reside and be eligible to work in Egypt,
• have a founding or key managerial role in the team,
• have power of attorney and legal ownership of the solution (in the event of a registered business);   
• have an entrepreneurial mindset, and
• be available to commit to developing and commercializing their solution throughout the duration of the program. 

Teams that are women-led or with a female majority and teams that create sustainable social, economic and/or ecological impact through their solutions are given priority in the selection process. This is in line with our dedicated focus to promote diversity and inclusion, gender equality and sustainable practices.

Applications are now closed. If you have already submitted an application, please keep an eye on your e-mail this month; we will be reaching out to you regarding your application status.

You can always e-mail us at shc@enpact.org to receive support with your application within 24 hours of your request. Please note that this is the only official support channel for the CiviConnectors program and the only way to guarantee a timely response.

Meet our CiviConnectors in Transport and Urban Development!

6 teams of young entrepreneurs started their journey of 6 months of incubation, the second and last stage of the CiviConnectors support program, in February 2024. Get to know them:

Dinamo mobile application, led by Ahmed Abdulazim

Dinamo is a ride-hailing app that works in remote and rural areas. It also supports pre-booking for travel between cities.

Driver Distraction Detector (3Ds), led by Mohamed Osama

3Ds is a mobile application to detect driver distraction. The application collects data through sensors integrated into the driver’s smartphone to monitor and analyze driving behavior without complex devices.

Seaats, led by Omar Tamer

Seaats is a feature-packed marketplace carpooling app, through which people commute together. Seaats targets university students, corporate workers, and travelers.

StreetKey, led by Ahmed Osama Amer

StreetKey is a mobile app that socially connects people to report problems in their streets and share experiences in their neighborhoods.

WADJET, led by Ahmed Osama

Wadjet is a geo-social app that uses maps to make people communicate and it offers a marketing digital billboard for local businesses.

Wasalny, led by Yassin Tamer

Wasalny is a mobility-as-a-service app, aggregating all transportation providers in Egypt.