Raya Holding for Financial Investments has officially launched the third and final cycle of its startup accelerator program, Raya FutureTECH, in collaboration with the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ), under the DevelopPPP program, an initiative by the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) designed to foster impactful partnerships between the private sector and development efforts in emerging markets.
The Raya FutureTECH accelerator targets startups working in strategic sectors aligned with Raya’s areas of operation, including information technology, customer experience, logistics, fintech, retail, clean energy, and smart mobility. The program offers hands-on mentorship from Raya’s senior executives, proof of concept creation, opportunities to collaborate with industry leaders, and access to the group’s broad expertise and capabilities, helping entrepreneurs move from concept to real-world application and growth. This cycle kicked started in March, and over the past few months, all participating startups have received personalized one-on-one sessions and mentorship from experts at Raya Holding and specialists in their respective fields.
The final cycle concludes with a flagship pitching night, where 10 startups will present their innovative solutions to a jury including representatives from Raya Holding, GIZ. Winning startups will receive additional support and potential funding from Raya to continue developing their solutions and scale their impact, further reflecting Raya’s commitment to open innovation as a strategic tool for inclusive, sustainable growth. The Investment Readiness Program will support five winners from this cycle, offering both group and one-on-one guidance on financial modeling and valuation, while also connecting startups with potential customers, partners, and investors
Ahmed Khalil, CEO of Raya Holding for Financial Investments, stated:
“At Raya Holding, we believe that supporting startups is not just a social responsibility, it’s a natural extension of our role as an investment company that places innovation at the core of its strategy. We open our doors to visionary founders, offering them the mentorship, collaboration, and even direct investment they need to grow. These new ideas don’t just enhance our investment portfolio, they fuel an entire ecosystem of progress. Our investment philosophy is clear: the future belongs to those we empower today.”
He added, “While this may be the final cycle within our current partnership with GIZ, the journey of Raya FutureTECH continues. Our commitment to the entrepreneurial ecosystem remains strong, and we will keep supporting the next generation of founders through bold, future-focused initiatives that reflect Raya’s role as an active enabler of innovation and growth in Egypt.”
Sameh Hammad, Implementing Head of Project at GIZ Egypt, shared, “GIZ is a strong supporter of private businesses in emerging economies and markets with new technologies. By partnering through programmes like DeveloPPP for jobs, we help these businesses grow, create jobs, and boost economies. Our work with Raya on growth-stage scale-ups is one of three key initiatives to support startups at different stages.”
He continued, “With this programme, we’ve assisted 34 growing companies in tech sectors like agri-tech, logistics tech, e-commerce, and fintech. We’ve seen promising ideas from Egypt’s startup scene, providing them with technical support, skills development, and networking opportunities. Our aim is to connect them with investment opportunities, helping them thrive and strengthening Egypt’s tech and business landscape for the future.”
