Shorooq Partners Venture Capital Case Competition

In the Shorooq Partners Venture Capital Case Competition, students gain practical experience through real-life case simulations that replicate the challenges and decisions faced by actual venture capitalists. With a multidisciplinary focus, the competition emphasizes the importance of technical, managerial, and interpersonal skills essential for success in the venture capital (VC) industry. By targeting students, the competition cultivates a pipeline of VC professionals and addresses the industry’s talent gap. Further, the investment mandate and interaction with VC judges create a competitive learning experience.

Call to Action

Despite Egypt’s burgeoning startup ecosystem and increasing demand for VC professionals, there remains a significant gap in capacity building for aspiring VC experts.

Current VC training programs often cater to advanced professionals and overlook the need for foundational skills and knowledge development among professionals early in their careers. Additionally, existing youth competitions and training programs primarily focus on the startup side of fundraising, which neglects the crucial role of VC experts in driving innovation and economic growth.

This lack of accessible and effective VC training programs hinders the development of a robust and sustainable VC ecosystem in the region. As a result, the industry faces challenges in attracting and retaining talent, ultimately limiting its ability to support the growth of promising startups.

Innovation Description

In 2023, the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEI) at American University in Cairo’s (AUC) Onsi Sawiris School of Business  joined forces with VC company Shorooq Partners to launch Egypt’s first VC case competition. Designed to be experiential, the case competition’s objective was for students to take the role of venture capitalists through a VC simulation in which they invest in a real startup.

Students worked with real-life data to create realistic content assessments of a startup, which included performing in-depth due diligence, evaluating investment prospects, and developing investment plans. Students presented these plans to a panel of judges that consisted of members from Shorooq Partners, ecosystem stakeholders, and AUC professors.

For the first-year pilot program, the competition targeted multidisciplinary AUC undergraduate junior and senior student teams only. However, during the 2024 round, the competition expanded to invite students from all Egyptian public and private universities in Greater Cairo, as well as students from select universities in Delta and Upper Egypt—namely Mansoura University, Alexandria University, Assiut University, and Minia University.

This experiential opportunity brought out the investors in students. It helped them understand the dynamics and variables that go into startup funding and managing dedicated resources, such as time, money, and people. Students practiced data management by identifying gaps, creating questions, gathering insights, and constructing a solid decision based on input.

Innovation Impact

The Shorooq Partners Venture Capital Case Competition has significantly impacted the Egyptian startup ecosystem. Over two years, the competition rounds have engaged 423 participants from 24 universities and fostered a deeper understanding of VC. Through workshops and hands-on experience, students have honed their skills in due diligence, investment analysis, and strategic planning.

The competitions have also served as a platform for career advancement, with participants securing internships in the VC industry. A prime example is Prime Ventures, a team that consistently demonstrated growth and resilience and ultimately won the 2024 competition.

The success of these competitions highlights their effectiveness in nurturing future VC talent and contributing to the development of a thriving startup ecosystem in Egypt.

Reference Links

• “Shorooq Partners VC Case Competition,” Shorooq Partners VC Case Competition website
• “AUC Students Get Industry Experience at Egypt's First Venture Capital Competition,” AUC website
• “Shorooq Partners VC Case Competition,” Instagram reel