The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is co-sponsoring a "Startup Weekend" event in Minya, Egypt, from October 26 to 28. The event, named "Minyathon," aims to bring together over 100 aspiring Egyptian entrepreneurs for an entrepreneurship competition.
Participants will form teams during the two-day competition to develop and pitch ideas for new businesses. They will work on refining their business models, creating viable business plans, and presenting their ideas to potential investors.
The Minyathon is co-sponsored by the Egyptian Ministry of Trade and Industry, the Hult Prize, and the Startup Institute. It targets young adults in Egypt who are talented, innovative, and civic-minded, aiming to strengthen the country's economy while benefiting their communities.
Rebecca Latoracca, USAID Acting Mission Director, stated: "USAID, in partnership with the Egyptian government, is building the capacity of promising entrepreneurs because we know that encouraging innovative entrepreneurship adds value to the economy and empowers people to work to their full potential. Our goal is that these teams will create new business ventures that will create jobs, solve some of the governorate’s challenging social issues, and contribute to the growth of Egypt’s economy."
USAID's support for Minyathon is part of its commitment to strengthen entrepreneurship and enterprise development among youth and women in Egypt by supporting micro, small, and medium enterprises' growth.
This initiative is part of a broader $30 billion investment by American people in Egypt through USAID since 1978. More information about USAID's work in Egypt can be found at https://www.usaid.gov/egypt or on social media platforms Facebook and Twitter at @USAIDEgypt.