Athar Accelerator has successfully concluded its “Fostering Entrepreneurship in Universities Program,” an initiative designed to strengthen the innovation ecosystem within Egyptian universities. The program empowered university professors with entrepreneurial training and culminated in a student hackathon where three winning teams were awarded EGP 50,000 each.
By the Numbers
The program achieved significant engagement across multiple universities and governorates:
- 30 University Professors: The number of faculty members who completed an intensive Training of Trainers (ToT) program on evidence-based entrepreneurship.
- 60 Student Teams: The number of teams from three governorates that participated in the culminating “1 Million Ideas Challenge” hackathon.
- 3 Governorates: The program engaged professors and students from universities in Assiut, Minia, and Fayoum.
- EGP 150,000: The total prize money awarded to the three winning teams from the hackathon.
Turning Campuses into Hubs of Innovation
Guided by the belief that universities are key drivers of innovation, Athar Accelerator’s program focused on equipping professors with the essential tools and methodologies to deliver effective entrepreneurship curricula. The goal is to create a continuous flow of innovative ideas from students and faculty, forming the foundation for successful startups.
A Dual Approach: Training Trainers and Inspiring Students
The initiative featured two core components. First, an intensive Training of Trainers (ToT) program built the capacity of 30 professors. This was followed by the “1 Million Ideas Challenge,” a hackathon that allowed 60 student teams to gain practical experience and mentorship. The program concluded with a final pitch day where teams presented their ideas to a panel of experts from various green industries.
Bridging the Gap Between Academia and Industry
A key success of the program was creating valuable networking opportunities that strengthened the link between academia and the private sector. The final pitch day was enriched by the participation of distinguished experts from companies like Raya Foods, Flat6Labs, and Green Pyramids for Recycling, who provided insights and honorary awards to promising teams.
The program was made possible through the support of key partners, including Orange Corners, the Embassy of the Netherlands in Egypt, AUC Innovation Hub, and Creativa Innovation Hubs.
Source: Athar Accelerator
