Egypt’s Catalyst Partners Soars 20% on Market Debut, Eyes Public Offering

Editorial Team

Last updated 30-12-2025

3 min

Shares of Catalyst Partners surged nearly 20% in their Egyptian Exchange debut.

Currently, only "qualified investors" with 5 million EGP in assets can buy the stock.

Chairman Majid Shawki hints at a full IPO by the end of 2026.

Catalyst Partners grew capital from 10 million to over 3 billion EGP through acquisitions.

The MENA startup scene is maturing, boosting regional founders' confidence.

Shares of Egypt’s Catalyst Partners got off to a lively start on the Egyptian Exchange, jumping by almost 20% in the company’s first trading session. For now, the stock is only open to what the regulators call “qualified investors” – essentially institutions and individuals with solid financial experience and at least 5 million EGP in net assets. A bit of a faff for everyday investors, but that’s how the rules are drawn at this stage.

Speaking to Al Arabiya Business, chairman and co‑founder Majid Shawki said the firm is still very much in growth mode. He explained that opening the door to retail investors will need clearer valuation work to make the company more appealing to the wider public. He suggested that a full initial public offering could be on the table by the end of 2026. And believe it or not, I reckon that timeline actually sounds spot on for a financial group that’s been bulking up its portfolio at speed.

Catalyst Partners’ journey hasn’t exactly been overnight. The firm launched in 2013 with just 10 million EGP in capital. Over the years it raised that to 235 million through a private placement, before snapping up the fintech platform Qarzi along with a leasing and factoring company. Those moves pushed its total capital to just over 3 billion EGP, a leap that shows the kind of ambition many founders across our region quietly dream about. I remember chatting with a young Cairo entrepreneur at an Arageek event who said acquisitions felt “too distant” for local startups — well… I mean, Catalyst is proof that they don’t have to be.

On the flip side, listing early isn’t always the golden ticket. Not every company enjoys a smooth run after ringing that bell. But Catalyst seems chuffed to bits with the early market reaction, and that confidence tends to rub off on investors. There’s still a long road ahead before any full public listing, yet the firm’s current trajectory makes it hard to ignore — even if one detail or another feels a bit rushed or, dare I say, definately optimistic.

As the MENA startup scene keeps maturing, stories like this remind me why so many founders tell us at Arageek that the region finally feels like it’s hitting its stride.

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