Alexandria-based innovation hub ICEALEX, in collaboration with Plan International Egypt and the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises Development Agency (MSMEDA), has launched the first edition of “Chimney Talks.” The event, held at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, was designed to create direct communication channels between entrepreneurs, support organizations, and policymakers.
Quick Facts
- Inaugural event hosted in Alexandria, Egypt.
- Attended by over 150 startup founders.
- Focused on bridging the founder-supporter gap.
- Featured direct engagement with MSMEDA.
Connecting Founders with Decision-Makers
The inaugural “Chimney Talks” drew a significant crowd, with over 150 startup founders and 240 entrepreneurs and specialists from various sectors in attendance. The initiative was created to address a critical gap in the Egyptian startup ecosystem: the limited opportunities for founders to directly engage with organizations that can provide financial and non-financial support.
The event provided a platform for participants to interact with experts and representatives from key support institutions, covering areas such as company registration, financial management, legal services, marketing, and product development.
A Platform for Direct Dialogue and Mentorship
The day began with a startup exhibition where founders showcased their products, services, and prototypes. The main program featured a series of interactive panels and discussions aimed at connecting entrepreneurs with practical knowledge and resources.
Opening remarks were delivered by Ahmed Bastawy, CEO of ICEALEX; Mohamed El-Naggar, Head of Non-Financial Services at MSMEDA; Shereen Ezzat, Senior Program Expert at Plan International Egypt; and Sara El-Geblawy, Head of Professional Programs at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina.
The event also recognized the winning teams from the “Delta Cities Hackathon” and the “Innovation in Sustainability Award,” presenting them with initial funding grants to support their ventures. A key panel discussion addressed the role of institutions in empowering startups through non-financial services, mentorship, and market access, while also highlighting the operational challenges founders face.
An open Q&A session, moderated by Islam Jihad al-Din, allowed founders to pose direct questions to MSMEDA representatives. The day concluded with one-on-one mentorship sessions where specialists from the agency provided tailored advice to individual projects.
Building Sustainable Support Beyond Events
Ahmed Bastawy, CEO of ICEALEX, emphasized that the center is focused on building a long-term support system for entrepreneurs. He positioned “Chimney Talks” as the start of a sustained effort to foster partnerships that drive startup growth.
“Our goal is for every entrepreneur to feel that there is an institution standing by them at different stages of their journey,” Bastawy stated. “The real impact is not achieved by just organizing events, but by building sustainable bridges that connect ideas with opportunities, and entrepreneurs with the institutions capable of supporting them.”
Post-event feedback indicated a positive impact, with 85% of attendees confirming they gained valuable information for their businesses. The success and feedback from the first edition have encouraged ICEALEX to continue developing the platform and launch new initiatives to empower entrepreneurs across Egypt.
About ICEALEX
ICEALEX (Alexandria for Entrepreneurship and Innovation) is an innovation and entrepreneurship hub based in Alexandria, Egypt. It works to support startups and founders by providing resources, fostering partnerships, and creating platforms for knowledge sharing and networking within the local ecosystem.
Source: Fintech Gate
