Standard Chartered, in partnership with the American University in Cairo’s AUC Venture Lab and Village Capital, has launched the inaugural Futuremakers Women in Tech accelerator program in Egypt. Funded by the Standard Chartered Foundation, this three-month global accelerator aims to empower visionary women entrepreneurs in Egypt’s tech-enabled sectors, promoting gender diversity and innovation in the country’s technology industry.
Mohammed Gad, CEO and Head of Banking & Coverage at Standard Chartered Egypt, emphasized the program’s significance: “Women entrepreneurs are catalysts for innovation and inclusive growth. Through Futuremakers Women in Tech, we’re opening doors for bold ideas and brighter futures.”
Over the next three years, the program will provide women-led startups with masterclasses, mentorship, investment readiness support, and networking opportunities. Participants will compete for up to USD 10,000 in equity-free funding to help scale their ventures and drive sustainable community impact.
Ayman Ismail, Founding Director of AUC Venture Lab, highlighted the initiative’s impact on Egyptian entrepreneurship: “Since 2013, we’ve supported over 1,000 founders. This new accelerator will further enable women to build tech ventures and access investment opportunities.”
The launch featured keynote speeches by Standard Chartered MENAP CEO Rola Abu Manneh and AUC Business School Dean Sherif Kamel, along with a panel discussing the future of female-led startups in the region.
Futuremakers Women in Tech has a successful track record across 17 markets, supporting over 4,000 women founders. This Egyptian cohort marks a key expansion of the initiative within the MENA region.
