Oriental Weavers, Gemini Africa conclude “Weavers of Tomorrow” program

Updated 1/25/2026 2:39:00 PM

Arab Finance: Oriental Weavers has concluded the “Weavers of Tomorrow” program in collaboration with Gemini Africa, focusing on innovation, digital transformation, and entrepreneurship within Egypt’s textile and home décor industry, as per a press release.

The closing ceremony was held at the Oriental Weavers Haptech Store, which is designed to support digital applications and market-facing initiatives.

The 18-month program received nearly 500 applications and supported startups through pre-incubation, incubation, and acceleration stages.

Thirty startups were selected for pre-incubation, where they received support related to business fundamentals and market readiness. Seven startups obtained corporate social responsibility financial support, while two progressed to the incubation stage.

The incubation phase involved 20 startups and provided mentorship, capacity-building activities, industry exposure, and access to market channels.

Five startups were selected for Shop-in-Shop collaborations within Oriental Weavers’ mega stores.

“Weavers of Tomorrow reflects our belief that sustainable industry growth comes from collaboration. By connecting entrepreneurship with digital transformation and real market access, we are building a stronger, more competitive textile ecosystem that can scale globally while remaining rooted in local talent, accelerating innovation across the value chain and creating shared value for the industry as a whole,” Chair of Oriental Weavers Carpets, Yasmine Khamis, stated.

Adly Thoma, chairman and CEO of Gemini Africa, commented: “Weavers of Tomorrow demonstrates how traditional industries can be reimagined when entrepreneurship, innovation, and market access come together. Our collaboration with Oriental Weavers goes beyond supporting startups; it embeds innovation directly within the value chain by integrating entrepreneurs into real market environments. This approach moves beyond training into tangible commercial opportunities, enabling scalable business models and creating sustainable growth, jobs, and long-term value for Egypt’s textile sector—while empowering local talent to compete and grow on a global level.”

The program concluded with a pitching event and exhibition at the Oriental Weavers Haptech Store in Mivida, where 15 startups presented their businesses to a judging panel that included Khamis and Thoma.

Several startups also showed potential for future collaboration and investment during the acceleration phase.

Through the Weavers of Tomorrow program, Oriental Weavers and Gemini Africa aim to support emerging talent and contribute to the development of Egypt’s textile and home décor sector.