Egyptian deep-tech and life science startup Nawah Scientific has secured US$23 million in Series A funding, marking one of the most significant capital raises in Africa’s scientific research and testing space.
The funding, which combines equity and debt, underscores growing investor confidence in technology-driven research infrastructure emerging from Africa.
Founded in 2015 by Omar Shokry Saqr, Nawah Scientific operates an online platform that enables scientists, researchers, and industrial players to request experiments, submit samples, and receive test results digitally, removing traditional barriers tied to geography, lab ownership, and high operational costs.
With this fresh capital, the company is positioning itself for aggressive expansion, including the development of a major global research hub in Rwanda, increased laboratory capacity in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, and entry into new markets across North Africa and Europe.
What You Should Know About Nawah Scientific
Nawah Scientific is a deep-tech and life science company that specialises in scientific, industrial, and research testing services.
Through its digital-first platform, the company acts as an intermediary between researchers and advanced laboratory infrastructure. Scientists submit experiment requests online, Nawah collects samples, conducts the required tests in its labs, and delivers results digitally.
The company’s core mission is to democratise access to high-quality scientific research, ensuring that researchers can conduct world-class experiments regardless of their physical location or whether they own laboratory facilities.
This model is particularly impactful in emerging markets, where access to advanced research infrastructure is often limited or prohibitively expensive.
Since its founding in 2015, Nawah has grown steadily by serving academic researchers, biotech firms, pharmaceutical companies, and industrial clients, positioning itself at the intersection of science, technology, and innovation.
Who Invested the Money
The US$23 million Series A round was led by Life Ventures Holding, with participation from Den Ventures, Empire M, AfricInvest, and Elsewedy, alongside several banks and angel investors.
The mix of equity and debt financing reflects both long-term confidence in Nawah’s growth potential and short-term support for infrastructure expansion.
The participation of both venture capital firms and institutional investors highlights a broader trend, that investors are increasingly backing deep-tech and life science startups in Africa, sectors once considered too capital-intensive or slow-growing for venture funding.
What Will the Money Be Used For
Nawah Scientific plans to deploy the funding across three strategic priorities designed to scale its operations and global footprint.
First, the company will build a 10,000-square-metre global research and development (R&D) centre in Rwanda. This facility is expected to serve as a continental and international hub for advanced scientific research, strengthening Nawah’s technical capabilities and positioning Rwanda as a key destination for life science innovation.
Second, Nawah will double its laboratory capacity in Egypt and Saudi Arabia, enabling it to process a higher volume of experiments, reduce turnaround times, and serve a growing client base across multiple industries.
Third, the startup will pursue geographical expansion across North Africa and Europe, extending its platform-driven testing services into new research and industrial markets.
Commenting on the raise, founder and CEO Omar Shokry Saqr said the funding “strengthens Nawah’s research and technology backbone for its next growth phase,” signalling a shift from regional success to global ambition.
What Impact Will This Make on Egypt’s Ecosystem and Africa at Large
For Egypt, Nawah Scientific’s growth represents a major boost to the country’s deep-tech and life sciences ecosystem.
By scaling laboratory capacity locally, the company helps retain research activity within the region, reduces dependence on foreign testing facilities, and supports local scientists, startups, and universities.
At a continental level, the planned R&D centre in Rwanda and expansion across North Africa reinforce Africa’s emergence as a serious player in global scientific research and innovation.
Nawah’s model lowers barriers to entry for African researchers, enabling participation in cutting-edge science without the need for massive capital investment in lab infrastructure.
More broadly, the funding round sends a strong signal to global investors that Africa’s deep-tech sector is maturing, capable of producing scalable, technology-driven solutions with international relevance.
As Nawah Scientific expands into Europe, it also challenges the traditional flow of scientific services from the Global South to the Global North, demonstrating that Africa can both consume and export advanced research capabilities.
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