RiseUp And The Many Echoes of Success
At the heart of Egypt’s new wonder – The Grand Egyptian Museum, the boldest and brightest minds of our current generation took a huge leap forward for the entrepreneur space across Egypt, while broadcasting it for the whole world to witness in utter awe. This monumental event that took place from the 8th to the 10th of May was none other than the RiseUp summit. RiseUp started in 2013, promising to bring together investors, startups, and change-makers. This year, RiseUp brings its vast amenities to Cairo with attendees flocking from all over to connect with like minded individuals, and then leave as a revitalised thinker. RiseUp also happens to be a testament to the Egyptian government’s increasing support for startups and young innovators. Dr. Sherif El Kilany, the Deputy Minister of Finance for Taxation Policies, has expressed his desire for Egypt to become a fertile soil that supports entrepreneurs, and attracts investors to that very same crop of talent. Abdelhameed Sharara, CEO and Co-Founder of RiseUp delved deep into the new government’s sentiment towards startups; by detailing the radical shift in policies lately, and how it has deeply affected the entrepreneur scene in Egypt for the better. The government now gives guidance and supports its young innovators on their path to reshape the world of business and art, which in turn gave way for the event’s diverse speakers to use the stage as their blank canvas, and paint their ideas openly and freely for anyone and everyone who is interested to learn more. Those who did, were met with a myriad of interesting and thought provoking ideas, spanning every field and every profession.
The Promise To Change Egypt With AI and Technology.
You would think that AI and transformative technology as a concept has been explored to its apparent depth and back, but Simon See, Chief Solution Architect & Global Head of Nvidia’s AI Technology Center, seems to have more sophisticated and informative insights than what the attendees at the event thought were possible to begin with. It seemed like the perfect place to start our discussion on the various topics that were discussed throughout the RiseUp event. Simon See takes a deep dive into the core essentials behind AI technology. He discusses how AI technology has been misunderstood by a lot of business savvy people as a tool to replace all tools, instead of an instrument to aid the natural business flow, alongside assisting creatives to better express themselves and highlight their skills. Simon See segways into a topic that captured the attention of the event’s attendees, as he discusses how Egypt is ready to invest and focus on AI infrastructure. In his insightful opinion, Simon See thinks the MENA region, and Egypt in particular, can shape the future of AI technology and better utilise it through their day to day lives. AI technology is a promise for a brighter future filled with innovative ideals taking reign in Egypt. We are already seeing the bright minds in action with the unveiling of a new project by the name of “ The Pyramids App”. The App, founded by entrepreneurs Amr Mostafa and Hassan Gohar – CEO of Milango, and Hospitality Investment Lead at Orascom Investment Holding, respectively, aims to change the experience of visiting the Egyptian Pyramids by offering visitors everything they need, from logistics, to a personalised map of the area with all the interesting points, to even immersive services that provide historical context and knowledge when needed. They hope for this app to get people to have an experience in Egypt like no other place. The success of the app in Egypt would hopefully open the avenues for other tourist attractions all around the world to make use of it.
Uncovering The Creative Side Of Egypt
RiseUp as an event has provided a full course business meal for the attendees, talking about technology in a variety of sectors, and propping up the latest innovators in each respective field. But the event is not just all business and no soul, so the best way to feed one’s soul is to tackle their creative itch. Creativity touches many aspects of our daily lives, and transforms those very solid aspects into more tangible concepts. Concepts like art and music are taken or granted, but they are an essential part of our everyday lifestyle, and that’s where the next speakers come in. Tyler Stellman of MDLBEAST comes in at the perfect time to tackle the subject of music in Egypt and the wider Arab world. His insights on how the music scene has mutated into a diversified beast of different genres and cultures taking the spotlight, has put into perspective how Egypt’s tastes have evolved and how much untapped potential and talent lies hidden in the thick of it all. Egyptians however proved to be an accepting culture that welcomes the diverse, the unique, and the innovative. And if it wasn’t for that very acceptance of the emerging art forms that tackle the unexplored and the taboo, there wouldn’t have been a piece of media like ‘Lam Shamseya”. The minds and hands behind the critically acclaimed tv show talk about crafting a sensitive, and informative piece that tackles the taboo subject of child sexual harrasment, while also delivering visual and auditory work that stands the test of time; It acts as an entertaining form of media while also being informative and mindful of the subject matter. That’s why the creators talk about the risks they took, and the decisions they had to make to frame a shot in a certain way, or write dialogue that feels real and raw.
Closing The Door On This Year’s Summit
The RiseUp summit for 2025 exceeded expectations, and did more than enough to live up to its core vision. It connected some of the greatest minds of every generation to discuss business, technology, and art. These were just samples of the whole experience that you can only get at an event like RiseUp.
