Techne

2025 Speakers

Karim Tawfik

Country Center of Excellence Director

Fintech & Innovation Hub Director

CBE- Central Bank of Egypt

Egypt

Tarek Taha

Fintech & Innovation Hub Director

CBE- Central Bank of Egypt

Egypt

I am an entrepreneurial and innovative leader with over 15 years of experience in building and scaling businesses, fostering innovation, and cultivating high-performing teams. My passion lies in the dynamic intersection of entrepreneurship, technology, and creative problem-solving. Throughout my career, I have thrived in fast-paced, high-growth environments, leveraging my entrepreneurial spirit to drive business success. I have a proven track record of launching and scaling ventures, identifying market opportunities, and implementing strategic initiatives that deliver exceptional results. With a strong focus on innovation, I have continuously sought out emerging technologies and disruptive trends to stay ahead of the curve. I am particularly excited about the transformative potential of artificial intelligence (AI) and its ability to revolutionize industries. The possibilities that AI offers in terms of data-driven insights, automation, and personalized experiences are truly fascinating to me. As a collaborative and inspiring leader, I excel in building and motivating teams, fostering a culture of creativity and innovation. I am passionate about empowering individuals to reach their full potential and creating an environment that encourages bold ideas and experimentation. My excitement for AI extends to exploring how this powerful technology can be harnessed to drive transformative change and unlock new opportunities for growth. My expertise extends beyond a specific industry, as I have successfully operated in diverse sectors, including technology, consumer goods, and service-oriented businesses. This versatility has allowed me to adapt quickly to new challenges and leverage my skills in strategic planning, business development, and operational excellence. If you are interested in exploring the possibilities of entrepreneurship, innovation, and building high-performing teams, I would be delighted to connect and exchange ideas. Together, we can create transformative solutions and make a positive impact in our ever-evolving world, leveraging the exciting potential of AI.

Abdelmoniem Elsharkawy

National Academy of Information Technology for Persons with Disabilities

NAID

Egypt

Hassan Mohsen

Gaming and Esports Marketing Manager

Intune support engineer

Microsoft

Egypt

Ossama Abuzid

Senior Brand Designer

Egypt

Mahmoud Elzomor

Co-founder & Group CEO

ILLA

Egypt

Dina Sallam

Head of Data & AI at Orange Egypt. Egypt Ambassador for Women in AI

Orange Egypt

Egypt

Dina Sallam

Head of Data & AI at Orange Egypt. Egypt Ambassador for Women in AI

Orange Egypt

Egypt

Dina Sallam is a renowned Data & AI leader with over 17 years of experience in the field of Data Management, Data Science, AI, and Customer Experience Management. Currently, she serves as the Head of Data, AI & CVM Analytics at Orange Egypt, where she drives innovation through advanced data and AI solutions. With a strong foundation as a telecom engineer, Dina has extensive experience working with leading mobile telecom operators. Her career has spanned critical domains, including Quality of Service and Customer Experience Management. In her current role, Dina focuses on building cutting-edge data platforms that enhance data literacy within organizations and unlock new revenue streams by monetizing data. Additionally, she is dedicated to developing robust AI solutions that increase profit margins, enhance customer experience, and streamline workflows. In addition to her corporate leadership, Dina is the Ambassador for Women in AI in Egypt, where she is actively building a strong community of women leaders and professionals, empowering them to shape and transform the AI landscape in Egypt. Dina’s academic credentials include a Professional Certificate in Machine Learning and AI from MIT Professional Education and an MBA from ESLSCA Business School. She is also a Green Belt certified professional from the American Society for Quality. As an instructor and mentor, Dina brings a wealth of knowledge and practical insights, leveraging her extensive industry experience and academic achievements to inspire and guide the next generation of leaders in the rapidly evolving fields of data and AI.

Ayman Ashour

Principal

Netwon International Management

Digital Technology & Cybersecurity Consultant

Endeavor Global London Hub

DMZ Cairo - UofCanada in Egypt

General Authority for Investments and Free Zones (GAFI)

Egypt

Hossam Heiba

President

General Authority for Investments and Free Zones (GAFI)

Egypt

Mr. Hossam Heiba is an experienced investment banker and direct investment professional with more than 32 years of experience of which 25 years management experience in setting up, managing, negotiating and enhancing direct investments in more than 15 different sectors and industries with international practice standards that involved undertaking different tasks that varied between managing investment companies and assuming operating roles, restructuring activities and companies, developing and executing workable business plans, initiating and developing start up projects and companies in the various sectors and countries. Mr. Heiba assumed several roles in various high profile companies and institutions such as Banking in Misr Iran Investment Bank, Management consultation in Coopers & Lybrand Management Consulting (currently PwC), Government Agencies in the Public Enterprise Office (PEO) - The Privatization Agency of Egypt, Direct investments & Asset Management in Al Ahly for Development & Investment (ADI), Venture Capital as CEO of Investia Venture Capital, Private Equity as Vice President of Egypt Kuwait Holding Co. (Al Kharafi Group) for Energy, Family Office as CIO in Energya Holding (DIFC), Advisory services as Managing Partner of Orbis Capital and Investment, Private Equity as Senior Partner in Beltone Private Equity as well as the Chief Investment Officer of ADI and the Fund Manager of both Bedaya SME Fund & Papyrus Tourism Fund, Non-banking Financial services as the CEO of Basata for SME & Microfinance. During his years of experience, Mr. Heiba has restructured, solicited & raised finances, conducted equity and debt underwriting through introducing new strategic investors or IPO’s as well as provided investment consulting and advisory services, through dealing with various financial institutions such as international banks, multilateral institutions, the World Bank; in addition to multinational and regional firms serving in more than 20 various sectors.

Ibrahim Rashad

Business Transformation Consultant

Executive Director, Regulatory Sandbox & Chief Data Officer

Financial Regulatory Authority FRA

Egypt

Amr Elharony

Management Consultant

Egyptian Fintech Association

Egypt

Ahmed Shalaby

Co-Founder, President and CEO

National Bank of Egypt (NBE)

Egypt

Louay Saleh

Cyber Security Group

National Bank of Egypt (NBE)

Egypt

Louay Saleh is a Cyber Security Technical Assessments General Manager with more than 17 years of experience in the domain and overall experience of more than 25 years. When he was at his Computer Science junior year at the university, Louay started to develop his passion for Cyber Security and realized that this is the field in which he wants to specialize. Starting his career in the Software Development area and then moving to the IT Support and Operations, Louay was always aiming to advance his knowledge and experience in different IT areas in order to move to Cyber Security. It was when he joined one of the Big 4 firms; Deloitte, that Louay was finally able to start working in that area. He worked in both Security Consulting and IT Audit; where he advised large customers mainly in the Banking, Financial, and Telecommunication sectors. He then moved to Ernst & Young for a few months and similarly worked with the same type of customers, before joining National Bank of Egypt. Louay was responsible for building and leading the team in charge of the Technical Assessment activities such as Vulnerability Management, Penetration Testing, and Red Teaming, in addition to Incident Management and Cyber Threat Intelligence. Louay considers those areas as his main specializations so he always tries to advance his knowledge and skills. A great deal of that is through doing the hands-on himself; whether during the work assignments or during his leisure time, as he always believes in building a good technical foundation and enhancing it whatever the job position one reaches. However, he also believes in balancing the technical expertise with the excellent leadership and business skills.

Ahmed Mahmoud

Founder & CEO

ElGameya

Egypt

I'm Ahmed Mahmoud Abdeen, an ambitious and driven individual with a passion for technology, leadership, and entrepreneurship. My professional journey began at the young age of 14 when I joined my family's business, and this early experience laid the foundation for my future success. Despite my early start in the business world, I never compromised on my academic pursuits. I achieved an outstanding 99.6% in my high school exams, which led me to pursue a degree in Electronics and Communications Engineering at the prestigious Cairo University. Throughout my career, I have had the privilege to work with renowned organizations such as the British Council, IBM, and Software Houses like Watheq, an electronic archiving company based in Saudi Arabia where I successfully completed numerous impactful deals, including collaborations with the Saudi Ministry of Economy and the King Salman Center for Humanitarian Aid and Relief. Beyond my professional endeavors, I am deeply committed to making a positive impact on society. Over the past 14 years, I have dedicated my time and skills to various non-profit organizations, such as "Life Makers Egypt," "Risala Charity Association," and "IEEE." My dedication to community service was honored with The Duke of Edinburgh's International Award, where I earned the Bronze level in 2016 and the Gold level in 2018, becoming an honorary director for the award in Egypt. I firmly believe in continuous self-improvement and the pursuit of excellence in all my undertakings. Creativity and sustainability are values I hold dear, and I constantly seek new opportunities to expand my professional network and collaborate with like-minded individuals in our industry.

General Partner & Founder

M Empire Angels

Egypt

Maged Ghoneima

General Partner & Founder

M Empire Angels

Egypt

Maged Ghoneima is an Angel investor and a technology commercialization expert. Over the past 15 years, Maged has mentored hundreds of technology startups and worked with tens of scientists to commercialize their IPs. He has also created an Angel investment group that has successfully invested in 80+ startups with multiple exits in the past 5 years. Maged obtained his BSc and MSc from the Electronics & Communication Department at Ain Shams University in 1997 and 2000, respectively. He then obtained his PhD in Computer Engineering from Northwestern university in 2006. He joined Intel Research Labs from 2003-2006 and then moved to NVIDIA as a Senior Circuit Designer. He has more than 50 reviewed publications in top journals and conferences. Maged has also co-founded three startups in the fields of Electronics, Systems and Software. After 12 years in NVIDIA, he returned to Egypt to lead the Mechatronics Engineering department at Ain Shams University 2014-2016, and is currently an associate professor in it. He also initiated and managed the ASU Innovation Hub (iHub) 2013-2021, and worked as the Strategy & Partnerships Manager at the Innovators Support Fund (ISF), and was the advisor to the Minister at the Ministry of Higher Education & Scientific Research. Maged is also a serial entrepreneur, where he has co-founded more than 10 startups, many that had very successful exits. He has also provided 2000+ hours mentoring 400+ startups over the past 10 years. He has also provided a wide range of innovation and entrepreneurship training workshops (2000+ hours in the past 10 years) to undergrads, working professionals and executive managers. Moreover, he currently serves as an advisor for 50+ startups, SMEs, corporates and universities in the region.

Marwan El Messiry

CEO

Concepts Consulting LLC

Egypt

Omar Elaraby

Corporate Strategy and Business Development Manager

ElAraby Group

Egypt

Omar Elaraby

Corporate Strategy and Business Development Manager

ElAraby Group

Egypt

Omar holds a Bachelor of Commerce (Business Management, Class of 2017) from the Ted Rogers School of Management at Toronto Metropolitan University formerly known as Ryerson University. Throughout his studies at TMU he majored in Entrepreneurship and Innovative Strategy and minored in Marketing Management. He also obtained his MMIE (Master in Management, Innovation, and Entrepreneurship, Class of 2021) from the Smith School of Business and Faculty of Science at Queen’s University. Omar is passionate about using the power of entrepreneurship and business to impact and change people's lives. During his undergraduate career, he was able to start his own social entrepreneurship business. This water filtration and sanitation business implemented in Upper Egypt was able to filter more than 150,000 litres of water to 50 different families in its first four months. After graduation, he worked with the DMZ at Ryerson University for 6 years. After the DMZ, Omar joined Highline Beta which is a consultancy group aimed to provide corporate innovation consultancy to Fortune 500 companies. In early 2023, Omar decided to move back to Egypt and join the family business ELARABY GROUP. He currently leads their Corporate Strategy and Business Development departments. In addition to supporting their International Business department by managing the South/Latin American region. Omar was able to develop a corporate innovation program at ELARABY GROUP with the establishment of ELARABY Ventures (elarabyvc.com).

Sherine Abd El-Kader Moharram

President of Electronics Research Institute, Chairman of STPERI

Electronics Research Institute

Egypt

Shereen Aggour

Fractional CMO - Customer Experience Growth Advisor

eBound

Egypt

Shereen Aggour

Fractional CMO - Customer Experience Growth Advisor

eBound

Egypt

A CX-focused growth marketing strategist and fractional CMO with over 20 years of experience in building and scaling brands across the Middle East, Europe, and the United States. I specialize in helping startups and SMEs unlock sustainable growth through brand strategy, marketing frameworks, and customer experience alignment.Throughout my career, I held key leadership roles in both global corporations and boutique consultancies. I served as Marketing Director at Inchora UK, where I led brand and customer acquisition strategies for a leading insurance group. At Vodafone Egypt, she drove national marketing campaigns and digital transformation projects that significantly improved customer acquisition and retention. In the United States, I worked with Affinity Consultants, advising European SMEs on entering and growing in the US market through tailored marketing strategies and brand positioning. As the founder of eBound Consultants, I also help mission-driven startups and SMEs create brand-led growth strategies that align their marketing, CX, and business models for long-term impact. I am an active startup mentor and trainer, collaborating with accelerators and ecosystem enablers conducting workshops and one-on-one sessions cover go-to-market strategy, brand building, customer journey mapping, and investment readiness — all delivered in a hands-on, actionable format. Certifications: Stanford University (Startup Launch & Innovation), Columbia Business School (Customer Experience Strategy), UCLA (Brand Management), and is a CIM Certified Marketing Professional. With a background in engineering and a passion for purpose-driven business, I blend strategic clarity with creative problem-solving and execution support.

Ahmed Abaza

Co-Founder & CEO

Synapse Analytics

Egypt

We are living in one of the most exciting era of the human history. Where innovation is everywhere, and new applications of technologies are arising every single day. The seeds of a new world are being sowed right now. From how we trade, to how we sleep is changing, and technology is at the forefront of that change. Artificial Intelligence is at the core of this new world. We already deal with it at every corner, from how you came to read this, to your next purchase would probably be triggered by an Artificial Intelligence algorithm. With all the excitement about AI, it’s faced with a lot of challenges to be mass produced and adopted by he different people. If you’re not a big tech company, such as google, Facebook or LinkedIn, the road to Adopting machine learning is tough and full of road bumps. From managing the data to the lifecycle of the AI itself, is not as straightforward as it should be. I am working to have anyone easily adopt machine learning and artificial intelligence fast and intuitively. If businesses can really embrace the power of such a technology, it will be nothing short of transformative. They will see unprecedented scalability in their supply chains or marketing. They can manage their business way more sustainably. Serve their customers much better and create an unstoppable growth machine. All they need, is how to access and adopt AI. The world is changing, and AI is here and my mission is to make AI possible and useable for everyone.

Assistant VP for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Nile University

Egypt

Heba Labib

Assistant VP for Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Nile University

Egypt

Heba Labib, PhD is the Director of Innovation, Entrepreneurship and Competitiveness Center, IECC, at Nile University. Since 2017, she has also been the director of Nile Preneurs, a nationwide initiative to support startups and SMEs through capacity building, incubation, and innovation support. The initiative has supported more than 270+ startups and close to 700 SMEs, in addition to providing capacity building for 12,000 people. From 2014 through 2016, she has managed the Technology Commercialization and Industry Relations Office at Nile University. From 2011 through 2014, she was the founder and executive director of NU100, a nationwide entrepreneurship initiative for techpreneurs who have developmental ideas. In 2007, Labib was a co-founder in Palm Paper, a wastepaper recycling mill startup. In 2004 she started Nile’s Gift, a company that processes and exports “Medicinal and Aromatic Plants”. Dr. Labib has been selected as one of the top 50 Influential Women in Egypt for year 2022. She has also been shortlisted as one of the top 5 female entrepreneurial leaders in Africa in triple E awards. Prior to that, she has won several entrepreneurship awards as an entrepreneur from Arab Business Challenge in 2007 in UAE, Business in Development Challenge in 2006, Netherlands, and the Shell “Intelaqah for Best Business Idea” Award in 2005 in Oman. She has also and participated in several Entrepreneurship seminars. Prior to the aforementioned ventures, Dr. Labib’s experience includes diligent studies on utilization of rice straw waste to convert to MDF and conducting a research study for the FAO on the “Gender Roles in the Production of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants”. Heba Labib holds a BSc degree in Mechanical Engineering from Oakland University, MI, and later she shifted to the field of Management of Technology, with MSc and PhD from Nile University, Egypt.

Mohammed Yassin El Hamaky

El Shawarby Attorney at Law

Egypt

Hesham Yossery

Chief Operations Officer

Contrato

Egypt

Nevine El-Far

Director of Grocery & Retail

Talabat Egypt

Egypt

Ahmed Muselhy

Chief Employment Officer

Business Development Leader

Head of Business Excellence & Execution - Digital Transformation

Novartis

Egypt

Mohamed El Sherif

Head of Innovation Development

Hilda Louca

Founder & CEO

Mitcha

Egypt

Hilda Louca Founder and CEO, MITCHA Hilda Louca has emerged as a pioneering force in Egypt’s fashion and e-commerce industry. Recognized by the TOP 50 Women Forum as one of the most Influential Women of 2021 and named among Forbes Middle East's 100 Most Powerful Businesswomen in both 2023 and 2024, Hilda is the first Egyptian woman to create an online shopping platform dedicated exclusively to homegrown fashion designers, transforming the local fashion landscape. Beginning her professional journey at the young age of 18, Hilda built a strong foundation in sales, marketing, and public relations across various industries. In 2018, she turned her vision into reality by founding MITCHA, a Cairo-based e-commerce platform designed to showcase and elevate emerging Egyptian designer brands. Her mission is to provide quality, affordability, and convenience while creating an online hub that celebrates and empowers local designers. Hilda's relentless drive to establish MITCHA as the region’s ultimate destination for local designers continues to inspire. Today, MITCHA stands as Egypt’s leading multi-brand fashion platform, supporting over 200 local brands through an integrated ecosystem that connects designers with consumers. Under Hilda's visionary leadership, MITCHA is expanding its reach to regional designers, paving the way for Egyptian and regional talents to shine on the global stage and reshaping the future of fashion in the region. In 2023, Hilda’s entrepreneurial influence earned her a spot as one of the Sharks on the first season of Shark Tank Egypt, solidifying her reputation as a key innovator and advocate for entrepreneurship. Awards and Recognition: • Top 50 Women Forum: Women Fashion Empowerment Award (2021) • Top 50 Most Influential Women (2022) • Forbes Middle East: 100 Most Powerful Businesswomen (2023 & 2024)

Director of Marketing & Digital Arts

MCIT - Ministry of Communications and Information Technology

Egypt

Mostafa Moussa

Partner

Bahaa-Eldin Law Office in cooperation with BonelliErede

Egypt

Heba Zaki

Director of the Egypt Entrepreneurship and Innovation Center

National Institute for Governance and Sustainable Development (NIGSD)

Egypt

Hosam Abdelkader

Head of the Central Administration for Entrepreneurship

General Authority for Investment and Free Zones

Samer Gharaibeh

Founder and CEO

Mylerz

Egypt

Samer Gharaibeh: A Visionary Leader in Logistics and Community Development Samer Gharaibeh is a highly accomplished executive with a remarkable career spanning over two decades in the logistics and transportation industry, complemented by significant contributions to community and NGO work. He is the Founder and CEO of Mylerz.com, an innovative last-mile delivery and fulfillment company. Mylerz distinguishes itself with a proprietary state-of-the-art technology platform, its own fleet, and dedicated fulfillment centers with branches across North Africa and Jordan. Prior to founding Mylerz, Samer served as the Chief Executive Officer for Africa at Aramex.com from 1996 to 2019. In this role, he was instrumental in expanding Aramex's operations across the African continent and was an active member of Aramex's Global Management Team. Samer's strong educational background includes a Master of Science in International Transport and Logistics. He has also completed several prestigious executive development and management programs, including those from the Wharton University of Pennsylvania, USA, and Singularity University at NASA. He holds a finance degree from the Faculty of Economy and Administrative Science at Yarmouk University in Jordan. Beyond his corporate achievements, Samer is deeply committed to social responsibility. He is actively involved in community and NGO work in Egypt and various African countries. He serves as the Chairman of the Board of Trustees at Ruwwad Al-Tanmeya Egypt and is a mentor at Endeavor Egypt. His past and present leadership roles in non-profit organizations also include serving as a committee chairman for the American Chamber of Commerce in Egypt, a member of the Advisory Board CxO Forum at AUC School of Business, a board member of the Egyptian Clothing Bank, and a member of the Supreme Advisory Board of the Arab Council for Social Responsibility.