Maged Harby: Inside Middle East EdTech, Egypt Talent Engine and How Localization Decides Startup Success – E650

"New directions are coming from Gen Z as they believe in entrepreneurship more than having a normal job, which can be a good thing because they want to create new ideas and solve real problems that customers genuinely need. They will likely facilitate the rise of more entrepreneurs, but they should stay aware and focus on solving real problems in their market and ensure the solution can scale to enough customers to succeed."

"Teaching is an important topic because Gen Z is very advanced; my son uses tablets and digital tools better than me, while his teacher is not matching his level. Tablets, digital tools and current teaching methodology still feel old, and teachers need to be updated and aware of new ways of teaching, including how to conduct effective remote teaching and present information in a better way that matches this new generation."

"Regulations are starting to promote startups and include them in the GDP, with laws changing to better fit the needs of new companies. Other countries like Saudi Arabia have an entrepreneurial license that reduces the cost of establishment and jobs in the first three years, and the Emirates, UAE and Qatar offer similar support. The atmosphere in the Middle East is helping and supporting startups to begin their work, and there are good grants and funding opportunities available."

Maged Harby, General Partner at VMS, joins Jeremy Au to share his journey from publishing to building one of the Middle East’s earliest EdTech venture programs, explain how Egypt and Saudi Arabia differ as innovation ecosystems, and guide founders on how to enter the region with cultural fit and strong partnerships. They discuss how EdTech adoption accelerated during COVID, why parents still steer children toward traditional fields, and how Gen Z is shifting toward entrepreneurship. Their conversation explores the contrast between Egypt’s talent depth and Saudi Arabia’s purchasing power, the need for localization in pricing and UX, and why Middle Eastern markets must be treated as distinct rather than homogeneous. Maged also outlines what he hopes to see next in personalized learning and why teacher training remains the region’s biggest unlock.

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