Five Egyptian startups have been recognised for their contribution to innovation and entrepreneurship, highlighting the growing role of startups in supporting Egypt’s economy, creating jobs and accelerating digital transformation across key industries.
Nawah Scientific, Nawy, Octane, Money Fellows and Swypex received the Entrepreneurs Awards during the Amwal Al Ghad Awards Ceremony 2026 in Cairo. The event, organised by Amwal Al Ghad Magazine and Exclnt for Conferences and Exhibitions, both subsidiaries of United Media Services (UMS), was held under the patronage of Prime Minister Moustafa Madbouly and carried the theme, “Leading the Narrative: Shaping the Future.”
The awards recognised companies that are using technology to solve real business challenges in scientific research, property technology, financial services and digital business management. Their success reflects Egypt’s growing startup ecosystem and the country’s efforts to position entrepreneurship as an important driver of economic growth, innovation and private sector development.
Startups Expanding Innovation Across Key Sectors
Nawah Scientific was recognised for making scientific research and laboratory services more accessible. Founded in 2015 by Omar Saqr, the company operates a cloud laboratory model that allows researchers and businesses to remotely access advanced testing services. Its operations span four business units covering life sciences research, food and agriculture testing, pharmaceutical research and development, and the production of certified reference materials used by laboratories for quality control and calibration. Through these services, Nawah is helping strengthen Egypt’s scientific research infrastructure while supporting industries that depend on reliable laboratory testing.
Nawy, recognised for its contribution to property technology, has become Africa’s largest proptech platform. Co-founded by Mostafa Beltagy, Abdel-Azim Osman, Ahmed Rafea, Aly Rafea and Mohamed Abou Ghanima, the company has built a fully digital real estate platform that simplifies every stage of buying, selling and investing in property. Using machine learning and personalised recommendations, Nawy helps customers find suitable properties more efficiently. Its Nawy Now service also makes home ownership more accessible by allowing customers to move into completed homes while paying through long-term instalment plans.
Fintech Companies Strengthening Financial Inclusion and Business Efficiency
Octane, founded in 2022 by Amr Gamal and Ziad Eladawy, was recognised for developing technology that improves fleet management for businesses. The Cairo-based startup has created a digital platform that combines fuel, maintenance, spare parts and petty cash expenses into one secure digital wallet. By providing businesses with real-time financial controls and analytics, Octane helps companies reduce unnecessary operating costs while improving efficiency across their vehicle fleets.
Money Fellows, founded by Ahmed Wadi, received recognition for transforming one of Egypt’s oldest community saving traditions into a regulated digital financial platform. Operating under the Central Bank of Egypt’s Regulatory Sandbox, the company has digitised the traditional rotating savings model, allowing more than eight million users to save, borrow and invest through a secure and transparent platform. Since launching in 2018, the company has expanded rapidly, attracted more than $45 million in funding and continues to develop new financial products while preparing for further regional expansion.
Swypex, founded by Ahmad Mokhtar, Tarek Mokhtar and Sasan Hezarkhani, was honoured for helping businesses modernise financial management. Licensed by the Central Bank of Egypt, the company offers an all-in-one financial platform that combines smart corporate cards, expense management, invoicing, accounting software integrations and financial reporting tools. The platform gives businesses greater visibility over their finances while helping simplify day-to-day financial operations and improve overall business performance.
The recognition of these five startups demonstrates the increasing impact of Egyptian entrepreneurs in developing technology that addresses practical business challenges. As investment in innovation continues to grow, companies such as Nawah Scientific, Nawy, Octane, Money Fellows and Swypex are helping build a stronger startup ecosystem while supporting Egypt’s ambition to create a more competitive, technology-driven economy.
Source: Amwal Al Ghad Magazine
