Ebrahem Anwar
Co-Founder & CEO
El-Mawkaa 

Matching Concrete Needs with Cutting-Edge Speed—That’s Elmawkaa

Elmawkaa is an intelligent digital marketplace revolutionizing the procurement of building materials in Egypt. By leveraging proprietary matching algorithms, it connects contractors, engineers, and property owners with vetted suppliers, delivering competitive and accurate quotations within minutes. Since its inception in 2017, Elmawkaa has onboarded over 1,300 suppliers and served more than 8,000 contractors, streamlining a traditionally fragmented industry. 

1. What inspired the creation of this startup?

As a civil engineer, I experienced how inefficient, slow, and unreliable the construction materials procurement process was in Egypt. That firsthand frustration revealed a clear opportunity to digitize and simplify the process for both contractors and suppliers. That’s how Elmawkaa came to life—designed to address critical pain points within the construction supply chain.

2. What were the challenges that you encountered when you started?

One of our biggest challenges was earning trust in a deeply traditional, offline industry. Convincing suppliers to adopt a digital platform wasn’t easy. We also had to navigate logistics, figure out a sustainable revenue model, build a solid team, secure funding, and find product-market fit. Each of these hurdles tested us—but ultimately made us more resilient.

3. Who helped you the most in your journey?

I’ve been lucky to have exceptional people by my side. My co-founders—Mahmoud Sherif, our brilliant CTO, and Mohamed Thabet, our strategic CBO—were key to our progress. On the mentorship front, Hani Naguib had a significant impact with his practical, insightful advice. Sharif El-Badawi, who was then a partner at 500 Global, also played a major role in supporting and believing in our vision.

4. Role of mentorship? Did you have a mentor to guide you throughout your entrepreneurial journey?

Mentorship was incredibly important. Mentors like Hani Naguib helped us avoid early mistakes, especially when it came to building our MVP. Sharif El-Badawi also guided us in sharpening our focus and go-to-market strategy. I believe mentorship isn’t just guidance—it’s a form of acceleration. That’s why I try to mentor other startups whenever I can.

5. What was the first major milestone for the company?

Landing our first major B2B client was a breakthrough moment. It proved we could earn the trust of established contractors and successfully shift transactions online in an industry that’s traditionally offline. That milestone gave us the confidence and credibility we needed to move forward.

6. If you could give one piece of advice to your younger self when starting out, what would it be?

Start by solving a real problem, not by building a product just for the sake of it. Talk to your customers constantly. Build a team full of action-takers, not just idea people. And most importantly, don’t wait for things to be perfect—just launch and improve as you go.

7. Why did you choose to attend Techne Summit, and how has it impacted your journey?

Techne Summit has always been an ideal platform to connect with the startup ecosystem. It allowed us to meet investors, exchange insights with fellow founders, and get valuable exposure. The energy, networking opportunities, and unexpected encounters all played a meaningful role in our journey.

8. What specific support from the Techne Corporate Innovation program helped Elmawkaa the most?

The program gave us critical exposure, strategic mentorship, and access to a powerful network. It helped us improve our pitch and connected us with key stakeholders. I vividly remember how much I refined my presentation and communication based on what I learned through the experience.

9. What advice would you give to startups considering joining Techne Corporate Innovation?

Absolutely go for it—but be ready to engage fully. Techne creates opportunities, but the real value depends on your involvement. Follow up, be proactive, ask questions, and adapt quickly based on the feedback you receive.

10. Looking back, what was the most valuable lesson you took away from the program?

You don’t need to have everything figured out. What matters most is your ability to learn fast, adapt, and execute. The Techne experience reinforced that execution and flexibility are more important than having a perfect plan.