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MENA-oriented [Middle East and North Africa] entrepreneurship platform RiseUP has launched a new initiative, #RiseUpExplore, under which the region’s top startups will be taken to participate in global entrepreneurship events.

RiseUp is a platform aiming to connect MENA region’s entrepreneurship ecosystem with the world, through activities such as the RiseUp Summit – most recently held in Egypt last December.

The organisation has announced the launch of a new programme, #RiseUpExplore, which will see the region’s top startups taken to global events; starting with eight Egyptian startups chosen to travel to the Tech Open Air event in Germany this week.

The intention is that through the #RiseUpExplore programme, the region’s startups will be connected with the most relevant global resources while showcasing the startup talent in the Middle East and Africa (MEA) region to the world.

“For the past four years, we have been expanding our network from locally to globally, and #RiseUpExplore is a gateway for the MEA region’s startups to be exposed to world class workshops and events, networking sessions with industry leaders, and meetings with top VC’s and angel investors,” said Con O’Donnell, co-founder of RiseUp.

“The MEA region has startups with brilliant ideas that need to be exposed to the global ecosystem – and that’s what RiseUp will continue to work on.”

The eight Egyptian startups attending Tech Open Air this week through the #RiseUpExplore programme include food discovery platform elmenus; Giraffics Studio, an integrated media production company; Elves, a tailored concierge service to buy and deliver things anywhere for you; SquashApp, the gateway to track, manage, and analyze your squash performance.

Also attending are El Wafeyat, an online platform for obituary announcements, condolences and memorial services; Fustany.com, a fashion and lifestyle portal for Arab women; Orcas, Egypt’s first babysitting and tutoring agency; and Travel Bucket, an all in one travel companion app.

“Even though we have been in the market for six years now, there’s much more to learn from the experts and to share your experiences as a startup as well. It’s events [such as Tech Open Air]that open up your eyes about how to become market leaders and how to expand as a digital platform,” said Amira Azzouz, founder and chief executive officer (CEO) of Fustany.

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