BasharSoft, the company behind Egypt’s job platforms Wuzzuf and Forasna, has fully acquired iCareer to form what it calls the country’s largest integrated employment and career services group. The transaction folds iCareer’s large-scale employability programs and consultancy into BasharSoft’s digital hiring ecosystem. It also positions the combined entity for deeper expansion across Saudi Arabia, the GCC, and the wider Middle East and Africa.
Strategic Rationale
BasharSoft says the deal is designed to tackle unemployment, skills mismatch, and labor market inefficiencies with a more comprehensive toolset. The company has connected more than 9 million job seekers with over 100,000 employers, with an estimated 1.4 million hires facilitated. Integrating iCareer’s field execution with BasharSoft’s technology and data is presented as a way to speed up matching and widen access for both talent and organizations.
Market Expansion and Impact
BasharSoft officially launched in Saudi Arabia earlier this year, and both companies had started operating in Gulf markets prior to the acquisition. The new group reports a combined positive impact on more than 10 million people in Egypt and targets empowering 100 million by 2030. Management frames this regional footprint as a springboard for further reach across MEA, including partnerships with governments, universities, and major employers.
Product Integration and Technology
As part of the transaction, BasharSoft acquired Recruitera, an applicant tracking software developed by iCareer. The ATS will be integrated with Wuzzuf and Forasna to centralize job posting, application management, and analytics for recruiters. BasharSoft plans to use AI to streamline profile creation for candidates and reduce input friction for employers, using insights drawn from thousands of prior postings.
Partnerships and Client Base
iCareer brings relationships with government ministries, leading universities, and large employers across Egypt and the Gulf. Its partners include Ain Shams University, AAST, Universities of Canada in Egypt, and The American University in Cairo, along with firms such as Hassan Allam Holding, Vodafone, PepsiCo, Raya Holding, and Procter & Gamble. The consultancy has also worked with international organizations like the ILO, the UN, GIZ, and CFYE to scale youth and women’s employability programs.
Leadership Commentary
Ameer Sherif, co-founder and executive chairman of BasharSoft, said the combined group will pursue acquisitions across JobTech, employment, and HR to build an integrated regional leader. He added that the company aims to collaborate with the public sector on policy and market data to improve matching, labor insights, and upskilling based on employer demand. iCareer’s co-founder and CEO, Akram Marwan, said merging with BasharSoft multiplies its employer network and job-matching activities and better equips the group to navigate shifts like remote work and AI.
Financial and Growth Outlook
BasharSoft currently employs about 200 people and plans to add 100 more staff over the next two years. The company is targeting revenue growth to 25 million dollars and is actively evaluating further acquisitions in Egypt and the region. Executives say the roadmap includes positioning the group for a potential IPO within two to three years.
Education and Employability Pipeline
The integration pairs iCareer’s training, coaching, and assessment programs with Wuzzuf and Forasna’s market access to help universities embed employability into curricula. Recruitera’s workflow aims to give employers faster sourcing while feeding back demand signals that inform skill development. BasharSoft emphasizes that combining marketplace data with structured programs can shorten time to hire and reduce mismatches.
Policy and Ecosystem Role
General Manager Ahmed Samir said the vision is to evolve from recruitment into a leading human capital management company for MEA. He pointed to enhancements in recommendation engines, AI-assisted job descriptions, and faster application flows as near-term priorities. The company also participates in public policy efforts tied to entrepreneurship and labor reform, including engagement with Egypt’s forthcoming Labor Law of 2025.
By uniting BasharSoft’s digital platforms with iCareer’s on-the-ground employability programs, the group seeks to create a scaled, data-driven employment engine for Egypt and the region. The acquisition adds software, partnerships, and delivery capacity while aligning with an expansion strategy across Saudi Arabia and the GCC. If execution matches ambition, the company could become a dominant regional player in HR technology and labor market services.