Egypt does not face a broad shortage of startup capital, but funding is unevenly distributed across investment stages, according to Dalia El Mohamady, CFO at Sawari Ventures.
Speaking at the “New Funding Horizons: Mobilising Private Capital to Support Startup Innovation” session during Techne Summit Alexandria 2026, El Mohamady said each stage of a company’s growth requires a different type of capital. Angel investors typically support early-stage companies, while venture capital becomes more relevant once a startup has a scalable product, customers and revenue.
She said gaps emerge when capital is available at one stage but limited at another, making it harder for startups to move from growth to expansion. Stronger coordination among investors and funds could help companies transition between financing sources.
El Mohamady also highlighted the importance of exits and distributions in returning capital to investors and recycling it into new opportunities. She pointed to DPI, or distributions to paid-in capital, as a key measure of how much a fund has returned to its investors.
For startups seeking funding, large corporate contracts can improve investor interest but do not guarantee financing. Funders also assess contract terms, revenue concentration, cancellation clauses and the predictability of cash flows.
She added that debt and equity can be used together, depending on a company’s stage, valuation and ability to generate cash. Startups should organise their financial statements, contracts, revenue records and expenses early to remain ready for future funding needs.
Source: Fintech Gate
