Before establishing Nawah Scientific, Omar Shoukry Sakr had no experience in the startup world. In 2017, when presented with the opportunity, he initially hesitated. Engaged in his PhD studies in nano drug delivery systems at the University of Geneva, Switzerland, Sakr anticipated working with a major pharmaceutical company during a required placement in Berlin, Germany. However, upon arrival, he found the company’s modest facilities and small team surprising and below his expectations. Despite concerns about career growth, he embraced the startup ethos and joined the company.

Working within a compact team allowed Sakr to engage in various aspects of the business and appreciate the dynamic and experimental nature of startups. This experience led him to decide against returning to academia’s structured environment. After completing his PhD and earning an MBA from the Hult International Business School in London, Sakr founded Nawah Scientific, a cloud laboratory service.

Nawah Scientific offers researchers a platform to submit samples for analysis remotely. Sakr envisioned creating a nucleus of advanced scientific equipment centralized in one location, hence the name “Nawah,” derived from the Arabic word for nucleus. The startup aims to address Africa’s scientific research deficit by providing specialized analysis services in natural and medical sciences, including molecular biology, microbiology, viral assays, food analysis, and nanotechnology.

With Africa facing a shortage of researchers compared to other regions, Nawah Scientific seeks to foster local research and innovation, contributing to the continent’s scientific advancement.


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