The team
Since 2011, we've brought together founders, innovators, and institutions to build a thriving entrepreneurship ecosystem in Alexandria, Egypt, and across Africa.
icealex was born from a simple belief: Alexandria — Egypt's second city and one of history's greatest centers of knowledge and culture — deserves a thriving innovation ecosystem to match its legacy.
We started with small gatherings of creative young people, then evolved into a fully integrated platform with incubation programs, workshops, events, and a network of local and international institutional partners spanning 14 countries.
Today, icealex is an active board member of AfriLabs — a pan-African network of 250+ innovation hubs — and recognized by the UN Global Compact as one of 100 startups committed to the SDGs.
Our work is organized across five interconnected pillars — from building ecosystems to igniting innovation in strategic sectors.
Connecting the actors of entrepreneurship — hubs, universities, institutions, investors — to build integrated innovation infrastructure.
Specialized incubators and accelerators: Startups of Africa, LSL, ECH, Craft Makers, and more — each program targeting a specific founder segment.
Building the capacity of innovation hubs and Entrepreneurship Support Organizations — training, consulting, and expansion projects across Egypt and Africa.
Ecosystem studies, policy advisory, program design, and impact analytics for governments and international institutions.
Events, hackathons, awards, and competitions that spark waves of ideas in sustainability, tech, crafts, and creative industries.
From green economy to creative industries — our expertise spans sectors critical to the region and the continent.
The next chapter of icealex extends from Alexandria to the entire continent — with new investment vehicles and strategic alliances.
Investment vehicle supporting startups beyond incubation — early-stage capital across Egypt and Africa.
Continental expansion of Startups of Alex — 2026+ cohorts welcoming founders from 52 African countries.
app.icealex.com platform enables digital program management, applications, and mentorship — serving all partner hubs.
Additional hubs across Cairo, Giza, and other Egyptian cities — plus deeper integration with Addis Ababa and Nairobi.
Long-term partnerships with development agencies (AFD, GIZ, UNDP), academic institutions, and research centers.
Diversified financing model — program fees, donor grants, consulting revenue, and fund returns.
To provide a comprehensive environment that empowers entrepreneurs in Alexandria and Egypt to transform their ideas into successful ventures that contribute to economic and social development.
To make Alexandria a regional hub for innovation and entrepreneurship — a city from which founders launch ventures that impact Africa and the world.
AfriLabs is Africa's largest network of innovation and technology hubs. By being a member, icealex connects Alexandria's community to a network of 300+ hubs across 52 African countries.
Whether you're a funder, founder, or organization — there's a path to work with icealex.
Co-design and fund programs that shape Egypt's and Africa's innovation ecosystem — long-term partnerships with measurable impact.
Start the conversation →Join our incubation and acceleration programs — idea to Demo Day. SoA, LSL, ECH, Craft Makers, and more.
Browse Programs →Benefit from program-design consulting and capacity building — or join the AfriLabs/LSL network.
Collaborate with us →We're looking for serious innovators and founders.
