Central Bank of Egypt Launches FinTech Got Talent 2025 to Boost Youth Innovation
The Central Bank of Egypt (CBE) has launched the third edition of the FinTech Got Talent 2025
competition, part of its ongoing efforts to support youth and strengthen Egypt’s position as a
regional hub for financial technology (FinTech) innovation The initiative, implemented through
the FinYology program under FinTech Egypt, is organized in collaboration with the Federation
of Egyptian Banks (FEB) and the Egyptian Banking Institute (EBI), targeting university students
with innovative FinTech projects
CBE Hosts the Third Edition of FinTech Got Talent
Central Bank The official launch event was held recently at the CBE, with Rami Aboulnaga, Deputy
Governor, delivering the opening speech The event gathered senior officials from the CBE
banking sector leaders, and representatives from leading Egyptian universities
In his address, Mr. Aboulnaga highlighted that the competition is aligned with the CBE’s
FinTech and Innovation Strategy, focusing on developing young talent with the practical
skills needed to meet labor market requirements. He emphasized that the competition also
demonstrates effective collaboration between the banking sector and the educational system
promoting digital transformation, financial inclusion, and an innovative ecosystem for youth in Egypt
Competition Stages and Incubation Program
Central Bank The FinTech Got Talent 2025 competition featured multiple stages, starting with university
-level eliminations and culminating in the selection of 11 top projects. These projects were
incubated through a one-month intensive program at DMZ Cairo, aimed at transforming
innovative student ideas into practical, market-ready solutions
The competition concluded with the announcement of the three winning projects
First Place – ESLSCA University Tapay, a mobile application that converts any smartphone
into a contactless payment terminal, enabling merchants to accept NFC payments without
traditional POS devices Second Place – British University in Egypt (BUE) Money Adventure
the first gamified financial literacy app designed to make financial education fun and engaging
for children Third Place – Cairo University AgriDawar, a digital platform connecting farmers
directly with buyers of agricultural surplus, leveraging e-payment systems and e-wallets for
transparent and instant transactions
Egyptian Teams Shine in Arab FinTech Challenge
Central Bank The winning teams earned the opportunity to represent Egypt in the Arab
FinTech Challenge, held in Dubai in October 2025 Notably, ESLSCA University and BUE secured
first and second place, respectively, competing against top universities from the UAE, Saudi Arabia
Qatar, and Morocco Dr. Rasha Negm, Assistant Sub-Governor for FinTech and Innovation
at the CBE, emphasized that these achievements reflect the exceptional talent of Egyptian
youth in FinTech and strengthen Egypt’s position as a leading regional innovation hub
Central Bank: Nurturing FinTech Innovation and Startups
Central Bank Launched in 2023, the FinTech Got Talent competition is the first of its kind in Egypt
under the FinYology initiative, which integrates students into practical, hands-on
environments The initiative equips participants with the skills and experience needed
to adapt to global FinTech developments and enhances their creative capabilities across
multiple domains to meet labor market demands Currently, FinYology spans over 30 Egyptian
universities, delivering 900 student-led projects with participation from approximately 19,000
students Supported by around 18 Egyptian banks, the initiative exemplifies the CBE and the
banking sector’s commitment to youth empowerment, entrepreneurship, and fostering a
vibrant FinTech ecosystem in Egypt
