Dar Ventures and Acasia Group unveil incubator for architecture, engineering, and construction industries

Dar Ventures, the investment subsidiary of design and engineering firm Dar Al-Handasah, has unveiled the "DARE" incubator initiative to nurture startups in architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) throughout the Middle East and Africa.

Startups chosen for the program will gain financial backing and non-financial resources like expert guidance and access to Dar Al-Handasah's academic partners.

"As a key player in the AEC sector, we aim to foster innovation within the industry through our specialized in-house incubator, the first of its kind in the MENA region, and perfectly aligned with our main business objectives," stated Nader Aboushadi, Director of Dar Ventures and Group Treasurer at Dar Group.
He added, "The AEC industry is multifaceted, encompassing more than just design. Our projects range from airports and buildings to entire urban landscapes."

Managed by Acasia Group, formerly Cairo Angels, the incubator will run for six months.

Ranya Saadawi, Acasia Group's CEO, pointed out, "Despite being a $12 trillion industry, the AEC sector accounts for a mere fraction of global venture activities, perhaps less than 5%. This opens a tremendous opportunity for Dar Ventures to catalyze innovation in the sector by creating a tailored marketplace to support early-stage startups."

Last year, Dar Al-Handasah collaborated with SIAC and Flat6Labs to roll out Makers, an accelerator focused on Egyptian startups in the construction technology sector.

Dar Ventures is also considering expanding its operations to Saudi Arabia.