GrowthLabs acquires Startup Gate to support startups across the MENA region

The deal is aimed at offering complete digital support for entrepreneurs and startups at every stage of their journey. This includes finding business opportunities, networking, fundraising, incubation, acceleration, and innovation programmes.

With this acquisition, GrowthLabs says it is creating a unique platform that combines strong startup communities with advanced technology solutions. The company plans to strengthen its role in the regional innovation ecosystem and expand across the Gulf and Africa in 2026.

The platform will also provide real-time data and analytics to help startups through the entire business process, from company registration to becoming investment-ready, while helping founders grow their businesses faster.

Commenting on the acquisition, Islam Mohamed, CEO of GrowthLabs, said: “This acquisition embodies our vision to construct an integrated entrepreneurial infrastructure that yields a profound, far-reaching impact on the broader economy. We are establishing a unified digital infrastructure that empowers every stakeholder within the ecosystem to operate with heightened connectivity and efficiency. Our objective is to deliver a systematic and sustainable impact through an operating system that nurtures the journey of startups from inception to expansion, ensuring they generate tangible market value. Fostering a transparent and supportive environment for startups is a direct catalyst for job creation, investment stimulation, and accelerating the engine of economic growth.”

He added: 'By synergising GrowthLabs’ technological strength with Startup Gate’s extensive network, we will deliver data-driven solutions anchored in real-time analytics.' This will empower our partners in both government and the private sector to realise measurable outcomes and scale corporate innovation throughout the region.”

As part of its 2026 plans, GrowthLabs aims to launch seven major corporate innovation programmes. The company also plans to introduce the MENA region’s first cross-border startup community for entrepreneurs.

The community will help connect different markets, making it easier for startups to access investment opportunities, talent, and business support. GrowthLabs says this supports its goal of becoming a leading platform for startup ecosystems in fast-growing markets.

Maged Ghoneima, Co-founder and Managing Partner of M-Empire, commented on the strategic orchestration of the deal: "This acquisition is a landmark move in our strategy to eliminate fragmentation within the MENA startup landscape. By architecting this deal, M-Empire connects the entrepreneurial community’s discovery of promising opportunities with data-driven execution. With our portfolio now spanning over 200 startups globally, we recognise that a unified digital infrastructure is the only way to accelerate investment readiness at scale. We are proud to have orchestrated this integration, which positions GrowthLabs as the definitive engine for innovation in the region."

Emmy Tawfik, Founder of Startup Gate and COO of GrowthLabs Holding, stated: “After a year of building and growing Startup Gate, we’re stepping into its next chapter. What began as a platform connecting founders to opportunities is now expanding into the first fully integrated digital infrastructure for entrepreneurship. Together with GrowthLabs and Catalyst OS, we are building a unified infrastructure that supports startups from the earliest stages to investment readiness and sustainable growth. This is not a new direction; it’s the natural scale of what we set out to build. Our ambition is to become a core pillar of entrepreneurship across the region.”

GrowthLabs says it has successfully managed more than 60 international programmes and supported over 5,000 startups in countries such as Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Jordan, Pakistan, and parts of South America.

The company has also worked closely with government bodies, universities, and international development organisations. Through these partnerships, GrowthLabs has created cross-border programs that help support the growth of the digital economy.

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