Egyptian startup Bekya Pay has been announced as the winner of the Pitch Startup Competition at the Youth Summit, securing first place out of 100 competing ventures. The event was held under the patronage of Madinet Masr, the Arab African International Bank, and Plug and Play Middle East, bringing together some of the region’s most promising innovators. Bekya Pay walked away with a prize of 1 million Egyptian pounds, a significant boost to support its expansion and mission.
Bekya Pay’s Mission
Founded to turn waste into value, Bekya Pay has positioned itself at the intersection of sustainability, financial inclusion, and community empowerment. The platform encourages individuals and businesses to recycle by offering rewards and cash incentives for waste collection, transforming environmental responsibility into an accessible daily practice. By addressing Egypt’s mounting waste management challenges, the company contributes to a cleaner environment while also generating income opportunities for underserved communities.
The Youth Summit Platform
The Youth Summit served as a platform to highlight entrepreneurial talent and cutting-edge solutions across multiple industries. Organized in collaboration with Plug and Play Africa, the competition created an arena for startups to pitch their ideas in front of experienced investors, corporate leaders, and innovation experts. The event was designed not only to reward top ventures but also to strengthen a growing ecosystem that empowers youth-driven solutions to societal challenges.
Recognition Among Peers
While Bekya Pay took the top prize, several other startups gained recognition as finalists in the competition. These included Miyāh Farms, Raid AI, STLR, and Learnia, each presenting bold visions aimed at addressing critical problems in agriculture, technology, and education. Their participation demonstrated the diversity of entrepreneurial energy emerging from the region, with each finalist reinforcing the summit’s theme of innovation and impact.
The Role of Sponsors and Partners
The success of the summit was underpinned by the commitment of its lead sponsors, Madinet Masr and the Arab African International Bank. Both institutions have emphasized their support for initiatives that empower youth and foster sustainable development in Egypt and beyond. Their partnership with Plug and Play Middle East and Plug and Play Africa highlights a collaborative model that bridges corporate resources with entrepreneurial ambition.
Voices From the Competition
Judges Ahmad Hammouda, Hania Tarek Salah, and Omar Hosny brought expertise and critical evaluation to the startup pitches. Their involvement ensured that the winning venture was selected based on both innovation and scalability, aligning with global standards of startup competition judging. The panel’s role reinforced the summit’s credibility, validating the winners and finalists as ventures with strong potential for long-term growth.
A Milestone for Bekya Pay
For Bekya Pay, winning this competition is more than just a financial boost. It is a public validation of its mission to reshape how society views waste, turning a persistent problem into a resource for economic and social benefit. Omar Saleh, co-founder and chief business officer of the company, described the victory as fuel for Bekya Pay’s mission to accelerate community empowerment and sustainability across Egypt.
The Youth Summit’s Pitch Startup Competition highlighted the dynamism of Egypt’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, while also underscoring the role of cross-sector partnerships in supporting young innovators. Bekya Pay’s victory places it at the forefront of Egypt’s green and inclusive economy movement, signaling new opportunities for growth and impact. With its fresh funding and rising visibility, the company is set to further its ambition of creating a cleaner, more sustainable future for communities across the country.