Cairo Calling: Event Recap
“Events like this matter. They create real conversations, real connections, and real learning for the ecosystem.”
If you’ve been following the momentum building in North Africa, you know that Founders Live Cairo is something special. But the December 2025 edition? It was on another level.
Our MENA Director, Mostafa Shahat, just released his full recap of the event, and looking through the photos and stories, one thing is clear: this wasn't just a pitch competition; it was a gathering of people driven by purpose, curiosity, and generosity.
Hosted at the enpact hub / Startup Haus Cairo, the room was buzzing before the first speaker even took the stage. This edition was supported by Second Chance—a platform founded by Louis Ravenscroft that is reshaping how founders recover from rejection using data and validation. It was the perfect partner for a room full of resilient innovators.
The Lineup
The educational portion of the evening was packed with unique perspectives. (Cairo operates differently here, as theirs is meant to be a longer experience than our usual happy-hour events.) We were fortunate to host a lineup of exceptional speakers from across the investment and technology landscape:
Noha El-Sherif (Suhail Ventures) shared insights on their fund's investment thesis and what they look for in early-stage founders.
Rana Eltanbadawy (Averroes Ventures) discussed their portfolio and the characteristics they prioritize when evaluating opportunities.
Hassaan Mahdy (EdVentures) gave an honest look at the investment journey and the patterns he’s observed over the years.
Ahmed Al-Bassyouny (Founder & CEO, Cloudilic) walked the audience through AI innovation across multiple sectors.
Mahmoud (Engineer, Cloudilic) presented on building an empowering engineering culture.
Ahmed Seddek captivated the room with an authentic and unforgettable perspective on Egyptian culture.
Sara Bakri brought a sharp legal mind to the stage, breaking down startup legal essentials with clarity and confidence.The Pitch Competition
Of course, the heart of the event was the 99-second pitch. We saw five incredible founders take the stage, representing everything from sustainable fashion to fintech.
The roster that competed for the win:
Almah (Manal Saleh): A social enterprise supporting The Egyptian Clothing Bank by upcycling excess materials and renting vintage textiles.
lvlup365 (Mohamed Selima): A digital platform gamifying HR processes to elevate employee performance.
PeacePay (Ahmad Adel): Redefining "Pay-on-Delivery" by digitizing conditional payments to build trust in the digital economy.
Peacock Sustainable Designs (Dahlia Salem): Eco-friendly design solutions merging contemporary art with natural materials to support rural artisans.
DrifTech (Ethar Hesham): A transparent automotive marketplace for buying, selling, and renting vehicles.
And the Winner is...
The audience was Dahlia Salem of Peacock Sustainable Designs! Her pitch was clear, impactful, and deeply rooted in purpose—exactly what the Founders Live community loves to support.
The Magic of the Open Mic
One of the most defining moments of the Founders Live experience is the unexpected magic of the Open Mic. Toward the end of the event, the floor opened up, giving founders, investors, and operators a platform to share ideas, ask for support, or introduce new projects.
One standout moment came from Sherif Mohamed Elshahawee, who shared his personal transition from serving as cabin crew at Emirates Airlines to becoming a developer at a fast-moving fintech. But he wasn’t alone—several others took the stage to share their journeys, creating a wave of honest moments and genuine community energy that reminded us why we exist in the first place.
Get the Full Story
This serves as just a glimpse of the energy in Cairo. Mostafa’s full recap includes a deeper look at the speakers, the specific feedback from the investors, and a massive gallery of photos that captures the vibe perfectly.
Read Mostafa’s Full Recap on Substack
A huge shoutout to Maria Sulaiman, the soul of the Cairo chapter, and the entire volunteer team who made this edition seamless. We can’t wait to see what 2026 holds for Founders Live Egypt.
