Oriental Weavers has concluded the Weavers of Tomorrow program in collaboration with Gemini Africa, reaffirming its commitment to innovation, digital transformation, and entrepreneurship across Egypt’s textile and home décor industry. The closing ceremony was held at the OW Haptech Store, a space designed to reflect innovation, digital advancement, and direct market engagement.
Program Drives Entrepreneurship, Digital Transformation, and Market Access
Commenting on the initiative, Yasmine Khamis, Chair of Oriental Weavers Carpets, said the program reflects the company’s belief that sustainable industry growth stems from collaboration. She emphasized that by connecting entrepreneurship with digital transformation and real market access, the initiative aims to build a stronger, globally scalable textile ecosystem rooted in local talent.
Over an 18-month journey, Weavers of Tomorrow attracted nearly 500 applications and guided startups through pre-incubation, incubation, and acceleration stages. Thirty startups entered pre-incubation, seven received CSR financial support, and two advanced to incubation. The incubation phase supported 20 startups with tailored mentorship, capacity building, industry exposure, and direct market access. As a tangible outcome, five startups were selected for Shop-in-Shop collaborations within Oriental Weavers’ mega stores.
From Gemini Africa, Adly Thoma, Chairman and CEO, highlighted that the initiative embeds innovation directly into the value chain by integrating entrepreneurs into real market environments—moving beyond training to deliver concrete commercial opportunities that enable scalable growth, job creation, and long-term value for Egypt’s textile sector.
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The program culminated in a final pitching event and exhibition at the Oriental Weavers Haptech Store – Mivida, where 15 startups presented to a judging panel including Yasmine Khamis, Samar Raouf, Adly Thoma, and Mohamed Samir. Several startups demonstrated strong potential for long-term collaboration and investment during the acceleration phase.
Through Weavers of Tomorrow, Oriental Weavers and Gemini Africa continue to nurture talent, accelerate digital and industrial innovation, and help shape the next generation of leaders defining the future of Egypt’s textile and home décor ecosystem.
