Standard Chartered, in collaboration with AUC Venture Lab and Village Capital, has officially launched the Futuremakers Women in Tech (WIT) programme in Egypt, unveiling the first cohort of 11 women-led startups. The three-month accelerator, part of Standard Chartered’s global Futuremakers initiative, aims to advance gender diversity and foster a more inclusive technology ecosystem within the country.
Fostering a More Inclusive Ecosystem
The launch marks a significant commitment to empowering Egyptian female entrepreneurs. After a competitive three-month application and screening process that saw 240 startups apply, 11 were selected to join the inaugural program. The accelerator will provide participants with masterclasses, hands-on mentorship, and tailored investment readiness support to strengthen their business resilience and growth potential.
Mohammed Gad, CEO of Standard Chartered, Egypt, highlighted the program’s strategic importance, stating, “By supporting 11 high-potential, women-led startups, we are not only investing in individual funds, but we are also fostering a more diverse, tech-driven startup ecosystem.” Adding to this, Ayman Ismail, Founding Director at AUC Venture Lab, said, “This accelerator will give them the mentorship, resources, and investment support they need to grow their ventures and make a meaningful impact.”
The Inaugural Egyptian Cohort
The 11 selected startups represent a diverse range of sectors, from EdTech and healthcare to e-commerce and clean energy, showcasing the breadth of innovation in Egypt. The rigorous selection process was conducted by a judging committee of experts from Standard Chartered, Village Capital, and the AUC Onsi Sawiris School of Business.
The chosen startups for the first cohort are:
- Smart Content (EdTech)
- Smart Solar (Solar Panel Technology)
- Aziza (Healthcare)
- Learning Rockets (EdTech)
- Leona Pet Plan (Pet Insurance)
- Encore Plus (E-Commerce)
- Green Flames (Manufacturing Solutions)
- Tribe (EdTech)
- Tutoruu (EdTech)
- Trace (EdTech)
- The Copywriter (EdTech)
Programme Structure and Support
The accelerator is designed for women-led, early-stage startups in Egypt with a minimum viable product and at least one female founder between the ages of 18 and 35. A key requirement is that the startups align with one or more of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Throughout the program, founders will gain access to a world-class acceleration experience. At its conclusion, they will have the opportunity to compete for up to USD 10,000 in equity-free seed funding to help scale their ventures.
About The Futuremakers Women in Tech Programme
The Futuremakers Women in Tech (WIT) programme is a global initiative by Standard Chartered, funded by the Standard Chartered Foundation. While this is the first cohort in Egypt, the program has a longstanding presence in other markets including Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and several African nations, having supported over 4,000 women founders across 17 markets. It partners with leading local ecosystem enablers like AUC Venture Lab, Egypt’s first university-based accelerator, and Village Capital, a global organization focused on supporting impact-driven startups, to deliver mentorship, training, and investment opportunities to women entrepreneurs.
Source: Zawya
