Science labs, upcycled fashion, and restored Cairo homes: meet She’s Next Egypt winners for 2026

Visa’s She’s Next Egypt has named its 2026 winners from a field of nine finalists — and the top three say a lot about where women-led businesses are building. Run for the first time in partnership with CIB Business Banking and Shark Tank Egypt, the program gives women entrepreneurs access to grants, mentorship, and training as they work to grow their businesses. Since 2020, Visa has invested more than USD 3.8 mn through 380+ grants, supporting over 8.5k women entrepreneurs worldwide.

First place went to Khadija Elbedweihy, founder of PraxiLabs. Her business builds 3D virtual science labs that give students across the Middle East and Africa hands-on access to experiments they might not otherwise be able to run.

Yara Yassin, founder of Up-Fuse, came in second. Up-Fuse turns discarded plastic bags, tires, and bottles into fashion accessories, while creating jobs for artisanal women across Cairo.

Amira Selim, founder of Kennah rounded out the podium in third place. Kennah operates adaptive-reuse serviced residences that restore Cairo’s older buildings for modern living.

The runway continues after the recognition. All three winners will receive a year of mentorship from industry leaders — giving them room to turn their businesses into stronger operations, sharper partnerships, and wider customer reach.