In a compelling address at the AI Everything MEA 2026 conference in Cairo, Dalia Ibrahim, Founder and CEO of Egypt-based Edventures, delivered a crucial message to the region’s entrepreneurs: the search for a strategic partner should take precedence over the mere pursuit of funding. Ibrahim argued that while capital is essential, the right partner offers value that money alone cannot buy, fundamentally altering a startup’s growth trajectory.
Beyond the Cheque: The True Value of a Strategic Partner
Ibrahim cautioned founders against a narrow focus on fundraising, highlighting that the real value lies in securing a “right-fit partner,” not just a source of capital. She explained that a strong strategic ally can elevate a company to an entirely new level by providing much more than financial backing.
According to Ibrahim, these partners unlock significant opportunities by opening doors to new sectors, offering critical financial insights, and granting access to extensive networks and strategic market intelligence on customer behavior. This support system helps founders identify the right market direction, connect with influential players, and access segments that would be difficult to reach independently. She noted that impactful partners are not always large entities; sometimes, they are individuals or smaller firms with deep expertise and powerful networks capable of making a tangible difference.
The Founder’s Prerogative: Asking the Hard Questions
Stressing that founders have the full right to choose their partners, Ibrahim urged entrepreneurs to conduct thorough due diligence and think deeply about critical questions before accepting an investment. Key considerations should include: “Who stands behind this investor? Who funds this institution? And how can this partner support the company beyond a financial injection?”
She reiterated that while funding is a core component, it should not be the sole criterion for selection. “The right strategic partner can be more important than the size of the funding itself,” Ibrahim stated, emphasizing that this choice determines the company’s path, opens doors, and propels it toward its next stage of evolution. She advised that if a distinguished investment firm exists in the market or region, founders should actively seek collaboration, as such partners can provide invaluable technological and market support to accelerate growth.
Reassessing Risk and Redefining Education
Looking at the broader investment landscape, Ibrahim identified 2026 as a pivotal moment for reassessing investment risks in the MENA region. With family offices making a strong entrance into new asset classes and sectors, the nature of risk has become more diverse and dynamic, demanding greater flexibility and boldness from investors.
Reflecting this shift, Ibrahim explained that Edventures has evolved its own strategy, moving from traditional programs to deeper investments in EdTech and subscription-based learning models. The firm’s vision now frames education not as a traditional school system but as a comprehensive “human development management” ecosystem. “What helps a person evolve must also evolve,” she remarked.
This philosophy guides their strategy of working with diverse models to close management gaps and promote human development. To date, Edventures has supported approximately 95 companies and has been directly involved in the management of 29, a phase she refers to as the “management stage.”
From Founder to Leader: Evolving for Scale
Ibrahim also touched on the necessary transformation of a founder’s role as a startup scales. She observed that many founders are currently reformulating their strategies to align with new growth phases. The challenge, she explained, is not just about expansion but about the ability to rethink strategically and avoid common pitfalls when transitioning from direct management to building a sustainable, institutionalized organization.
She concluded by asserting that a fund’s role is not to cover losses but to fuel growth in multiple markets, enhance solutions, and deliver superior value to customers. Success in the current climate, she stressed, depends on strategic flexibility, good management, precise market timing, and a deep understanding of the evolutionary stage of the business.
About Edventures
EdVentures is a corporate venture capital (CVC) firm that invests in the seed and pre-Series A stages of startups specialized in education, culture, and innovative learning solutions. Based in Egypt, it aims to empower and support entrepreneurs who are developing transformative technologies and services for the education sector in the MENA region.
Source: Fintech Gate
