Egyptian entrepreneur launches venture to connect local manufacturing with US market
El Sewedy told Ahram Online that the venture will sell consumer goods to American customers, sourcing and producing them in Egypt. He did not disclose further details, but said the company will be headquartered in New York and is expected to begin operations later in 2026.
“Egypt doesn’t come up enough when discussing diversifying manufacturing in the US,” El Sewedy said, pointing to what he described as an opportunity for Egypt to position itself as a commercial partner.
The move comes as Egypt steps up efforts to attract US investment into its manufacturing sector and boost exports. According to data from the Office of the US Trade Representative, total goods trade between Egypt and the United States reached $12.3 billion in 2025. US exports to Egypt rose by 50.5 percent year-on-year to $9.5 billion, while Egyptian exports to the US increased by 12 percent to $2.9 billion.
In June 2025, more than 55 US companies took part in a policy forum in Cairo aimed at strengthening bilateral economic ties, where officials discussed a potential customs agreement and broader measures to facilitate trade.
El Sewedy’s new venture marks a shift toward entrepreneurship after a career spanning consulting and technology. He previously worked at McKinsey & Company and currently leads operational and commercial initiatives at Retool—a firm based in Silicon Valley that reached a $3.2 billion valuation within five years of its founding.
At Retool, El Sewedy has been involved in launching enterprise software products, including artificial intelligence tools used by companies such as Amazon Web Services and Databricks.
He said he will remain in his current role at Retool until the new venture begins operations later this year.