May 12, 2025
Cairo, Egypt – Career 180, a leading Egypt-based edtech platform, has announced a six-figure investment from U.S.-based venture capital firm Den VC, alongside plans to expand operations into Saudi Arabia, backed by regional growth partner Value Makers Studio (VMS).
Founded in 2017 by Shrouk Alaa El Din and Mohamed Akmal, Career 180 provides practical, skills-based training and job-matching services through a SaaS-enabled Learning Management System (LMS). With over 1 million learnersengaged to date, the platform aims to empower 50,000 new job seekers, particularly targeting unemployed youth across the Middle East and North Africa.
The newly secured funding will support Career 180’s strategic growth initiatives, including:
- Scaling its LMS platform to serve more learners across the region
- Localising course content in Arabic to improve accessibility
- Expanding into key markets such as Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Malta
Shrouk Alaa, Co-founder of Career 180, shared her vision:
“Building Career 180 has always been about more than just business — it’s a mission. We believe every young person deserves the chance to discover their potential and succeed, regardless of their background. With the support of Den VC and our incredible partners, we’re ready to take this mission further. Our expansion into Saudi Arabia and beyond will allow us to reach and uplift more youth, helping them become the confident professionals of tomorrow.”
As part of this expansion, Career 180 is entering the Saudi Arabian market with the support of Value Makers Studio (VMS) — a regional venture studio that helps global startups scale successfully across the MENA region. Through its soft-landing services and local ecosystem expertise, VMS will support Career 180 in navigating the Saudi market and amplifying its impact on youth employment and talent development.
Moataz Abuonq, CEO of VMS, commented:
“Startups need more than capital to succeed — they need the right partners, local insight, and operational support. At VMS, we work hand-in-hand with startups to help them overcome market entry challenges and unlock long-term growth opportunities in Saudi Arabia.”
Career 180 has been consistently recognised as one of the top EdTech startups in the MEA region by HolonIQ (2022–2024) and has partnered with notable organisations including the International Labour Organization (ILO), GIZ, Coca-Cola HBC Egypt, and Plan International. Co-founder Shrouk Alaa El Din was also named one of the Top 50 Female Entrepreneurs in Africa by the IFC and the Embassy of the Netherlands, underscoring the startup’s commitment to gender inclusion and youth empowerment.
With fresh capital, a growing network of strategic partners, and a proven impact model, Career 180 is poised to redefine career development across the EMEA region — through innovation, localisation, and meaningful partnerships that create lasting change.
