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7/23/25, 10:25 AM MBRF concludes fourth edition of Youth Knowledge Forum (YKF) - Middle East News 247

The first session, held under the title ‘Entrepreneurship: From Beginnings to Challenges and Transformations,’ was moderated by
Dr. Nizar Sami, UNDP Egypt Innovation and Inclusive Growth Project Officer. The session explored what motivates young people
to become entrepreneurs and the key challenges they face during the early stages of establishing their ventures. Prominent
entrepreneurs, including Mohamed El Shabrawy El-Feky, Founder of Sympl; Mohamed Ragab, CEO of Imtlik Real Estate; Fady
Ibrahim, Founder of Cropsa; Mohamed Yehia, Co-Founder of BIS; and Mohamed Koura, CEO of Vision, took part in the
discussions, sharing their personal experiences with failure, key lessons learned, and the obstacles entrepreneurs face in
accessing markets and building customer bases. They also discussed the future of entrepreneurship and the prerequisites to
creating a conducive environment for youth empowerment.

The second session, titled ‘Investment and Venture Capital,’ moderated by Mustafa Abdel Latif, Co-founder and CEO of E Youth,
examined Egypt’s vibrant entrepreneurial scene from an investment perspective, highlighting the funding challenges that hinder
start-up growth. Featuring notable speakers such as Ali Mokhtar (CEO of Beltone Venture Capital), Dr. Amr Al-Awamry from ARIA
Ventures, and Nada Shaheen, Managing Director of GB Ventures, the discussion covered start-up evaluation frameworks. It
stressed the importance of building a strong investment ecosystem and encouraging innovation.

The third session, titled ‘Non-Financial Services and Their Role in Supporting Entrepreneurs,’ was chaired by Dr. Nizar Sami and
focused on strategies to strengthen Egypt’s entrepreneurial ecosystem and attract more young innovators. Discussions
emphasized key ways to improve start-up sustainability and encourage regional growth. Panelists included Mohammed Al-Naggar,
Head of the Global Transaction Banking Division at Banque du Caire; Dr. Dalia Mustafa, an Entrepreneurship Expert; Dr. Hani
Ayad, Chairman of the Youth Entrepreneurs Association; and Dr. Heba Al-Ashry, Director of the Entrepreneurship Centre at the
Arab Academy for Science, who offered their insights on achieving long-term success for emerging businesses.
The second day of the Forum highlighted inspiring young entrepreneurs from Egypt, the UAE, Oman and Morocco,
commemorating their innovative contributions towards strengthening the region’s start-up ecosystem. Notable speakers included
Akram Marwan, founder of iCareer; Nadia Jamal Al-Din, creator of ‘Rahet Bali’; and Abdul Hamid Sharara, founder of RiseUp. Anis
Al-Nahari from Oman also took part in the discussions, sharing his valuable insights on promoting youth-led projects and fostering
sustainable impact.

YKF concluded with an open dialogue session, where young participants shared their visionary aspirations for the future, guided by
insights from Dr. Hani Turki, Chief Technical Advisor at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP). Moreover, a
commemorative group photo session was also held to mark the Forum’s successful conclusion officially.

The fourth edition of the Knowledge Youth Forum marks a significant milestone by bringing together government officials, young
visionaries, and thought leaders. It provided an ideal platform for exchanging innovative ideas, future-oriented strategies, and
actionable plans that can advance the knowledge economy and support human development. Additionally, participants worked to
identify major challenges faced by young entrepreneurs and explored practical ways to strengthen knowledge-based economic
growth.

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