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PRESSR: MBRF concludes fourth edition of Youth Knowledge Forum

Jul 22, 2025, 17:24 GMT+4Refinitiv4 min read

The Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum Knowledge Foundation (MBRF) successfully concluded the
fourth edition of the Youth Knowledge Forum (YKF), which was held in collaboration with the United
Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and Egypt’s Ministry of Youth and Sports through the
Knowledge Youth Office. The event was held at the Cairo University Theatre on July 20 and 21, 2025,
convening a distinguished group of experts and pioneers in this field.

The second and final day of YKF featured several in-depth discussions on key themes, including
entrepreneurship, its challenges, and the stages of development. The sessions also examined
Egypt’s diverse entrepreneurial projects, the financial hurdles hindering their establishment and
growth, as well as strategies for attracting investment and managing risk. Additionally, the event
highlighted several inspiring entrepreneurial models and concluded with an open discussion,
where young participants shared their future goals.
His Excellency Jamal bin Huwaireb, CEO of MBRF, said: “The Youth Knowledge Forum is a
dynamic platform for empowering young people and cultivating a culture of entrepreneurship and
investment across the region. We, at MBRF, believe that constructive dialogues play a crucial role in
strengthening the regional business landscape and promoting innovative entrepreneurial projects.
Such initiatives further underscore the joint efforts of the UAE and the Arab Republic of Egypt to
drive economic development and enhance the role of youth in society. We look forward to
organizing more such impactful events which promote cooperation, and meaningful dialogue,
further supporting the Foundation’s vision of enhancing innovation and entrepreneurship.”

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

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concludes-fourth-edition-of-youth-knowledge-forum/