More than 20 organizations and 200 guests gathered on Friday at Downtown Cairo’s GrEEK Campus for an event designed to promote and support social entrepreneurs, whose companies try to find innovative ways to tackle social problems.
The event, Ideation Station, was organized by V-Worx, which provides training, practical and professional support for social enterprises and volunteer programs. (Mada Masr receives support through V-Worx’s Mobaderoon Masr program, but was not directly involved with Saturday’s event.)
Along with time for established and aspiring social entrepreneurs to meet and mingle, and attend workshops and panel discussions with industry experts, the highlight of the day was a contest in which four teams got a change to pitch their ideas to the crowd and compete for LE5,000 in seed funding.
Delivered for the most part by first-time entrepreneurs who were clearly nervous speaking in front of an auditorium full of people, the pitches may have lacked a bit of polish, but the ideas were all interesting. Selected from among 78 applications from across Egypt, the finalists were chosen based on both the social impact and the originality of their ideas.
Et3lem, a team from Cairo, is developing an interactive electronic platform to teach science and other subjects in a way that aims to engage teachers, students and their parents. Sherket Kheir, from Gharbeia, has launched a project to use rice straw—which is usually burned, causing pollution and health problems—to grow mushrooms.
PEI, a team from Mansoura University, has developed a prototype for an inverter they believe will help create lower cost solar energy applications. Montez, from Gharbeia, is trying to tackle the problem of drowning with a special suit that serves as a floatation device, a body-warmer and a geolocation device.
After all contestants received feedback and advice from a panel including V-Worx founder Hesham al-Rouby, Et3lem was awarded the seed funding.
Throughout the day, local social enterprises set-up booths in the campus courtyard to introduce themselves to potential collaborators, volunteers and customers.
“We’re hoping to get to know other entrepreneurs,” explained Sarah Mousa, who is preparing for the official launch of her company Shamsina, which is building and installing solar powered water heaters in the Darb Al-Ahmar neighborhood.
AlQomrah, a creative agency for local artists, came out to raise visibility for their project and connect with young artists, said executive director Giacomo Crescenzi.
Mariam Hazem, co-founder and CEO of Reform Studio, which transforms discarded plastic bags into stylish and environmentally friendly furniture, had a more prosaic purpose. In addition to looking for contacts and inspiration, Hazem was looking for something more simple: people to donate plastic bags.
“Today is mainly a networking event between pioneers and start-ups, to hear from each other, and to encourage people with ideas to apply as start-ups,” said Rouby. “New ideas come from human interaction.”
