ExxonMobil Egypt and Misr El Kheir Foundation (MEK) announced the graduation of five pioneering teams from the “Water and Agribusiness Social Challenge”. This collaborative initiative, in partnership with the business incubator “GESR,” affiliated with MEK’s scientific research and innovation sector, highlights ExxonMobil Egypt’s commitment to social responsibility by empowering youth, fostering innovation, and promoting entrepreneurship in line with Egypt’s 2030 Vision.
The program, now in its second year, spanned over the course of one year and aimed to provide comprehensive training in innovation and entrepreneurship. Its objective is to assist entrepreneurs in transforming their initial concepts into successful startup enterprises with a positive societal impact. These startups were then prepared for investor presentations to ensure their sustainable growth. The application phase for the latest edition began in December 2022 and received 184 submissions, which were subsequently narrowed down to 69, and further refined to 50 teams across three phases. Finally, five competitive teams emerged as finalists, engaging in discussions regarding their plans, financial allocations, and ultimately signing contracts. The primary challenge for these teams was to develop new and innovative ideas addressing community service and sustainability in the water and agribusiness sectors.
“The success of the program’s second edition underscores our unwavering dedication to nurturing young talent, fostering innovation, and providing tangible solutions to address challenges in the water and agribusiness sectors,” said Eng. Youssef Hafez, Board Member and Public & Government Affairs Manager of ExxonMobil Egypt. “As we continue our successful journey in collaboration with Misr El Kheir Foundation, we aim for a new phase of the program, striving to create more impactful and innovative solutions in support of the nation’s sustainable development goals.”
Similarly, Eng. Amal Mobadda, CEO of the Fundraising Sector at Misr El Kheir Foundation, expressed her pride in reaching this milestone in this year’s community challenge, which focused specifically on water issues and agricultural entrepreneurship. She stated, “We have great confidence in the capabilities of the winning teams to make a positive impact by transforming their initial models into tangible solutions aimed at addressing our society’s challenges. During the next phase, we look forward to deepening our collaboration with ExxonMobil Egypt as we work towards fulfilling Misr El Kheir Foundation’s vision of promoting a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship, enhancing youth capabilities, and building a knowledge and technology-based economy.”
The winning teams presented a wide range of innovative concepts. One of the teams, “Soil Solar” developed a device that captures carbon from the atmosphere and stores it in specialized soil to accelerate agricultural growth. Another team, “Fertifeed,” created 100% natural compost from animal waste, offering higher efficiency and reduced toxicity compared to conventional fertilizers, tailored for different plant and soil types. The “AzollaFeed” team produced poultry feed from organic materials, sourcing protein from Azolla plants and achieving protein rates between 18% to 24%. Additionally, the “Grain Straw” team collected rice straw, extracted cellulose for bio-plastic production, and utilized it for 3D printing filament or the manufacture of plastic materials. Lastly, the “Sigmatic” team developed a solar-powered water desalination unit to purify remote groundwater from severe salts and harmful bacteria.
