Today is part three in our series of startup scenes across the Middle East.

This time we're looking at Egypt.

A quick heads up, some of the recordings are in Arabic.

Egypt is a very special place in my heart.

I claim half my identity to this noisy, loving, energetic nation.

A massive country of 90 million people, Egypt is

home to some of the most influential media and creative exports to the rest of the Middle East.

Music, film, and literature often start in Egypt, and known as well for raising a youth driven to make

an impact. Young Egyptians are starting revolutions to overthrow governments, they're shutting

businesses to tackle some of their most challenging social problems.

Much entrepreneurial drive comes from necessity.

And this is true across the Middle East, the region is experiencing one of the most severe youth bulges of our time,

with 65% of the population under the age of 35 and historically high rates of unemployment, coupled with dissatisfying existing

employment opportunities. Well, yeah, many people are turning to entrepreneurship to carve

new paths forward. But then what breeds that necessity means we're also talking about a very

difficult environment in which to build anything, let alone a business. I once asked a friend

what the positives were about starting her business in Egypt, and she responded, there's nothing

easy about starting anything in Egypt. And I can say this very openly. There's nothing. We have

definitely chosen the more difficult path. We'll hear more from Dina later in the show. Today,

we'll share with you the stories of a few

entrepreneurs and what their experiences have been starting growing their companies in Egypt.

This is Hibah Fisher, and you're listening to Kearning cultures.

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