Posted on February 13, 2023
The Creative Mediterranean team were in Egypt on the 8th and 9th February 2023 for the kickoff of the selected business proposals with NilePreneurs Initiative. The business proposals were selected under the CREACT4MED project following the pitch session, which took place on the 12th January 2023 in a hybrid format. Entrepreneurs were required to present their businesses to a group of experts, and 4 were selected.
As with previous visits, over the course of two days, beneficiaries learned about the CREACT4MED activities, and brainstormed synergy opportunities where entrepreneurs were challenged with a view to strengthening their business proposals. Following the event, these projects are ready to be launched with the help of the Egyptian Business Support Organisation, NilePreneurs Initiative, funded by the Central Bank of Egypt and implemented by Nile University .
The entrepreneurs are: Almah – a project by the Egyptian Clothing Bank, Duma Toys, Reform Studio, and Teatro Al Saeed. Read more about them at the CREACT entrepreneur page.
On the first day, Maria Ruiz de Cossio, (Project Officer at Euro-Mediterranean Economists Association – EMEA), explained the CREACT4MED roadmap outlining the project activities under the subgrant activity.
We then heard from Heba Lebib, Director of NilePreneurs Initiative. She gave an inspirational talk to the entrepreneurs on the importance of creativity and the skills needed to succeed as an entrepreneur.
The second day started with a visit to FabLab Egypt (Fabrication Laboratory). FabLab is a space where creative individuals can come and test out their ideas and turn them into prototypes. The FabLab team gave a tour of the premises and led an activity for our “maker” entrepreneurs.
In the afternoon, each entrepreneur sat down for a one-to-one session with Maria Ruiz de Cossio, Project Officer at EMEA and coordinator of the CREACT4MED project. In this session, the business proposals were revised and checked to ensure full compatibility. In parallel, entrepreneurs were interviewed on their experiences so far with the CREACT4MED project.
CREACT4MED is a project funded by the EU through the EuropeAid Programme, and seeks to strengthen CCI ecosystems in the MENA region and unleash the full potential of CCI to create empowered and flourishing societies. It aims to support entrepreneurs, start-ups and SMEs, create jobs, and foster sustainable economic growth in the Southern Mediterranean, with a particular focus on young people and women.
It is led by Euro-Mediterranean Economists Association (EMEA) (Coordinator), with the partners Institute of Entrepreneurship Development (iED), European Institute of the Mediterranean (IEMed), Union of Mediterranean Confederations of Enterprises (BUSINESSMED), Redstart Tunisia, Confédération méditerranéenne pour le développement (MED Confederation), Beyond Group, Libera Università Maria SS. Assunta (LUMSA Università), Association of Organisations of Mediterranean Businesswomen (AFAEMME), Positive Agenda Advisory, and Womenpreneur.
