Ecosystem Hero of the Year in African Entrepreneurship Award Goes to the Egyptian Dr. Nabil Shalaby
In a grand celebration held in Cape Town, the legislative capital of South Africa, the Global Startups Awards (GSA) Africa announced today the winners of its 11th edition at the continental level. The awards spanned 14 categories, highlighting groundbreaking innovations shaping the future of Africa and the world.
Record-Breaking Edition
This year’s edition achieved unprecedented milestones, with 11,949 applicants participating. The voting process also witnessed historic engagement, with 215,210 individuals casting their votes alongside an expert jury evaluating the entries.
Top Winner: Dr. Nabil Shalaby
The Egyptian entrepreneur Dr. Nabil Shalaby won the Ecosystem Hero of the Year 2024 award, recognizing him as the most influential figure in African entrepreneurship. Dr. Nabil expressed his pride in receiving this honor, stating:
“Winning this award among a select group of Africa’s most prominent scientists and entrepreneurs is a great source of inspiration and motivation to work even harder. I am currently focused on comprehensively advancing Egypt’s entrepreneurial ecosystem-not just through an informational map but via an innovative platform like the Global Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Platform (GEEP) I created. This platform, now connecting supporters and startups from 72 countries, is unparalleled globally, which is why I call it Egypt’s gift to the world.”
Award Acceptance Speech
During the ceremony, Dr. Nabil delivered a recorded message, saying:
” Good evening, I am Nabil Shalaby, an Egyptian, Arab, and African citizen. The founder and chairman of the Arab Entrepreneur House, the leading consulting firm in the MENA region committed to promoting entrepreneurship and SME development at a macro level. The Ecosystem Hero of the Year Award fuels my passion and commitment to continue striving for a prosperous world future through entrepreneurship. I extend my heartfelt gratitude to my wonderful family, my incredible team, and everyone who believed in me and took the time to vote. A special appreciation goes to the gracious jury and the Global Startup Awards Africa. Your dedication to recognizing talent is truly inspiring. Thank you all for making this moment a reality.
Competition Details and Next Steps
Africa is divided into five regions, with one winner per category from each region advancing to the continental level. Five finalists in the Ecosystem Hero of the Year category reached the finals, including representatives from Egypt, Ghana, Gabon, Namibia, and Ethiopia.
During the closing ceremony, Dr. Nabil Shalaby was announced the African Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Hero for 2024. He will now compete against winners from other continents for the global title, scheduled for 2025.
