Entlaq’s SDR 2025 to Spotlight Egypt’s Startup Ecosystem in El Gouna

Malaz Madani

Last updated 23-09-2025

3 min

Entlaq will unveil its third Egyptian Entrepreneurship Sector Diagnostic Report in El Gouna in September.

The event, under ministerial patronage, highlights El Gouna's unique setting and innovation commitment.

Abu Tig Marina will host the summit, with Abu Tig Island launching alongside as a venue.

The report aims to measure Egypt's startup ecosystem progress with strategic data and analysis.

Discussions will cover financial inclusion, youth support, and women's empowerment by the Red Sea.

Entlaq has announced the third edition of its Egyptian Entrepreneurship Sector Diagnostic Report (SDR 2025), which will be unveiled in El Gouna this coming September. The summit, set for the 25th and 26th, will take place under the patronage of the Ministerial Committee for Entrepreneurship, along with Egypt’s Ministry of Planning, Economic Development and International Cooperation, and the Ministry of Investment and Foreign Trade.

The two-day gathering will have a rather striking backdrop. Abu Tig Marina is hosting the event, and the launch of Abu Tig Island – El Gouna’s newest venue – will coincide with it. Saying the island is surrounded by the Red Sea almost undersells the view; it’s a quite unique setting for a business summit.

Entlaq’s Managing Director, Omar Rezk, said the latest SDR marks a milestone in measuring the progress of Egypt’s startup ecosystem. The report, he explained, offers a strategic lens backed by modern data and analysis, a tool to help chart the territory for entrepreneurs. Rezk also pointed to the partnership with El Gouna as a sign of shared commitment to creating the right conditions for innovation.

From the side of Orascom Development, Mohamed Amer, who is CEO of El Gouna, stressed the town’s role as more than just a tourist spot. He highlighted how ongoing projects such as G-Space, its business park, and the soon-to-launch G-Valley hub, are actively helping founders to start, scale, and collaborate. Hosting SDR 2025, he said, is another step in showing how El Gouna can contribute to job creation and an innovation-driven economy.

What’s on the agenda? A mix of heavy policy talk and practical discussion. Ministers, global experts, and over 40 investors and funds are expected, with conversations ranging from financial inclusion and green financing to cross-border capital flows. Youth support and women’s empowerment will also take centre stage, alongside spotting those high-growth sectors that could unlock new markets.

It all sounds impressive, but if I’m honest, what makes it stick in the mind is the idea of a policy dialogue happening right by the Red Sea. From years following entrepreneurship stories for Arageek, I’ve seen how much setting matters. Get people out of their usual offices, into a place that breathes energy and creativity, and sometimes the long-winded debates become much more human. It’s a bit of a faff to organise, of course, but spot on for sparking fresh thinking.

El Gouna itself has positioned cleverly in recent years. Not content with being a cultural and sports hub, it has leaned into entrepreneurship as part of its identity. I reckon that’s no coincidence. Having seen startups struggle to find communities that both inspire and sustain them, a town offering a 360-degree lifestyle while doubling as a business platform could be a winning bet. And believe it or not, that blend of quality of life with entrepreneurial hustle is still quite rare in MENA.

So yes, SDR 2025 might be heavy on policy frameworks and numbers, but the human detail here—the setting, the mix of voices, the timing—could end up mattering just as much. And I’m definately curious to see what new opportunities come out of it when September rolls around.

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