Scale it Forward: Bridging the Gap Between Financial Institutions and High-Growth Scaleups through Venture Debt in Egypt

Scale it Forward: Enabling Venture Debt as a Growth Financing Tool in Egypt

Scale it Forward is a catalytic initiative that bridges the financing gap between financial institutions and high-growth, innovative scaleups by introducing venture debt as a practical, non-dilutive financing solution within Egypt’s investment ecosystem.

The programme is designed to partner with five financial institutions (FIs) that seek to innovate their lending portfolios. It actively de-risks venture debt investments by equipping 30 scaleups with capacity-strengthening training and 5,000 Euros in non-repayable support, ensuring a pipeline of financially structured, investment-ready opportunities.

By addressing three interconnected pillars—supply-pillar engagement, demand-pillar readiness, and ecosystem awareness—Scale it Forward enables the development and real-world application of venture debt instruments in Egypt, contributing to a more resilient and dynamic investment ecosystem.

Key information

Duration

January – December 2026.
Capacity support

30 scaleups and 5 Financial Institutions are receiving tailored capacity support across financing mobilisation phases.
Financial support

5,000 Euros in non-repayable funding per scaleup to de-risk venture debt investment, close readiness gaps, and strengthen financial health.

Capital mobilisation

Commitment from participating FIs to provide at least 5,000 Euros in venture debt per selected scaleup, each FI investing in 6 scaleups.

Objectives

Promote venture debt as a credible growth-oriented financing instrument in Egypt by working with financial institutions and providing catalytic non-repayable financial support to high-growth startups in high-demand sectors, including Fintech, Agri-tech, and Health-tech.

Location

Egypt
Targeted SDGs

Programme objectives

Innovate & de-risk portfolios of lenders

Enable financial institutions to support high-growth scaleups through non-dilutive financing while strengthening investee readiness ahead of deployment.

Scale without dilution

Provide scaleups with access to venture debt to finance growth while preserving equity and avoiding the rigid collateral requirements of traditional bank lending.

Strengthen debt readiness

Position participating scaleups for venture debt and future institutional capital through expert guidance on financial models, governance, and compliance.

High-value investment and market leadership

Position participating financial institutions as pioneers in Egypt’s investment landscape by activating venture debt products that define a new standard for growth-oriented financing.

Venture Debt: A Credible Growth-Oriented Financing Instrument in Egypt

Venture debt in Egypt plays a critical role as a viable financial tool, closing the “missing middle” financing gap between early-stage equity and traditional bank lending collateral.

Scale it Forward enables venture debt to be deployed responsibly and sustainably within the Egyptian investment ecosystem, addressing the structural barriers that have limited its adoption, through targeted readiness support for scaleups and de-risking mechanisms for financial institutions.

Scale it Forward programme components

Scale it forward – venture debt – Egypt (2)

Financial institution engagement & venture debt mobilisation

Scale It Forward aims to partner with five leading financial institutions in Egypt, including Venture Capital (VC) firms, Private Equity funds, and Microfinance Institutions (MFIs), to activate and deploy specialized Venture Debt products.

Each participating institution identifies and selects six high-growth scaleups to receive investment, accessing a vetted pipeline of growth-stage innovative companies across high-demand sectors like fintech, agritech, and healthtech.

Through formalized commitments and MoUs, the partner financial institutions mobilise private capital and provide a minimum of 5,000 Euros in venture debt per scaleup, effectively diversifying their lending portfolios with innovation-led assets.

Scale it forward – venture debt – Egypt (1)

Scaleup support & readiness for venture debt investment

Scale it Forward aims to equip 30 innovative scaleups in Egypt with the financial governance and operational readiness required to access venture debt.

This readiness track is specifically designed for high-potential, innovative companies that have moved beyond the startup phase and need to extend their runway and fund revenue-generating activities.

The programme provides each selected scaleup with 5,000 Euros in non-repayable funding alongside targeted capacity support training to strengthen financial models and cash-flow visibility.

Therefore, founders can scale while preserving equity, and simultaneously de-risking capital deployment for lenders through improved transparency, discipline, and repayment readiness.

Get in touch

If you’re interested in joining the programme or learning more about its benefits and activities, please contact us at shc@enpact.org

You can also fill out the form below to express your interest. This will ensure you are among the first to receive updates regarding the official call for applications and upcoming info sessions.

Scale it Forward Programme

Express your interest to be the first to know once the applications open

Programme partners

Scale It Forward is co-developed by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ) GmbH in Egypt and enpact, under the patronage of Invest for Jobs – the Special Initiative “Decent Work for a Just Transition” on behalf of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ).