After more than a decade of shaping the region’s startup ecosystem, RiseUp Summit returns in February 2026 with a theme that feels less like a slogan and more like a statement of intent. “The Turning Point” frames this year’s edition as a moment of awareness, reflection, and acceleration, not just for RiseUp, but for Egypt’s ever-evolving innovation scene.
A Journey Twelve Years in the Making
Founded in 2013, RiseUp began as an ambitious idea to connect startups with the resources they need to grow. Over the past 12 years, that idea has expanded into a regional movement, bringing together entrepreneurs, investors, creatives, policymakers, and global experts under one ecosystem. From sparking grassroots conversations across the Middle East and Africa to stepping onto international ground in Saudi Arabia and soon Europe, RiseUp’s trajectory has been anything but static. Summit 2026 doesn’t mark a reset; it marks a realization of how far that journey has come.
Understanding “The Turning Point”
Before a turning point, there is linearity, growth that feels steady, familiar, and continuous. According to RiseUp’snarrative, the pre-turning-point phase isn’t about conflict; it’s about continuation. The turning point itself is quieter but more powerful. It’s not immediate action, but awareness. A shift in perspective where new dimensions become visible, and where growth is no longer just forward, but outward. This year’s summit invites its audience to pause, reassess, and recognize that moment before momentum fully takes over.
Egypt as a Catalyst, Not a Follower
In a world where industries, technologies, and creative economies are constantly reshaping themselves, Egypt’s role is often underestimated. RiseUp Summit 2026 pushes back against that narrative. Rather than positioning Egypt as a market reacting to global change, the summit frames it as a spark, a place where ideas collide, evolve, and ripple outward. Rooted in legacy yet driven by reinvention, this turning point signals a shift from potential to acceleration, from promise to impact.
One Event, Many Worlds Colliding
At its core, RiseUp Summit is about fusion. Technology meets business. Creativity intersects with capital. Startups stand at the center, surrounded by universities, investors, corporates, government entities, service providers, and media. This ecosystem isn’t theoretical; it’s lived across stages, workshops, and conversations. With over 400 global speakers expected, the summit creates a space where knowledge-sharing, matchmaking, and inspiration happen simultaneously, feeding into RiseUp’s ripple effect.
Why Summit 2026 Feels Different
What sets this edition apart is its timing. RiseUp Summit 2026 arrives at a moment of heightened awareness, for the ecosystem and for the country hosting it. Taking place at the Grand Egyptian Museum from February 5 to 7, the summit becomes both a reflection of what has been built and a preview of what’s next. It’s not about announcing the future, but recognizing that the shift is already happening. The turning point isn’t coming; it’s here.
