At just 25, Egyptian entrepreneur Ahlam Fathy is leading a new wave of green innovation by transforming fish waste into valuable marine collagen — turning an environmental challenge into an economic opportunity.
Fathy, a graduate in Fisheries and Marine Resources Science from Kafr El-Sheikh University, grew up in the Nile Delta town of Foua, where she witnessed firsthand the environmental harm caused by discarded fish waste. What began as a local concern became the inspiration for her start-up, CoBata, which extracts raw marine collagen from fish by-products that would otherwise go to waste.
“Instead of letting fish waste pollute the environment, I wanted to convert it into something useful and sustainable,” Fathy said.
Her idea took shape through Meshwary, a youth empowerment programme supported by UNICEF’s Generation Unlimited in partnership with the Education Above All Foundation’s ROTA initiative. The programme provided business training, mentorship, and access to government stakeholders who helped her move from concept to execution.
“The Meshwary programme helped me assess the problem, shape it into a viable solution, and bring it to life with economic value,” she added.
Combining her scientific background with hands-on experimentation, Fathy successfully developed a prototype for marine collagen — the first of its kind in Egypt’s local market. The product, in high demand across the cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and medical sectors, offers a sustainable and cost-effective alternative to imported collagen.
“CoBata isn’t just a business; it’s a mission,” Fathy said. “It solves an environmental problem and fills a market gap. We are proud to be Egypt’s first local producer of marine collagen.”
Fathy’s achievement illustrates how youth-led innovation can drive both environmental protection and economic growth. By turning waste into a high-value resource, her initiative reflects a broader movement among Egyptian youth toward sustainable entrepreneurship.
Observers note that Fathy’s success underscores the importance of programmes that empower young people to create meaningful change in their communities. With support from UNICEF and EAA’s ROTA, initiatives like CoBata demonstrate how innovation can thrive beyond laboratories — in the hands of young changemakers determined to build a cleaner, greener future for Egypt.
