Standard Chartered, in partnership with the AUC Venture Lab at the American University in Cairo and Village Capital, has successfully concluded the first cycle of the “Women and Technology” program in Egypt. The accelerator program, part of the “Futuremakers” initiative, saw 11 women-led startups graduate after three months of intensive training and mentorship.
Empowering Egypt’s Female Founders
The program was designed to empower female entrepreneurs and foster innovation within Egypt’s technology sector. The inaugural cohort was highly competitive, with 12 startups selected from a pool of over 240 applicants.
Over three months, the participating founders engaged in more than 35 training sessions and 40 mentorship and panel discussions. These sessions were led by industry experts, investors, and seasoned entrepreneurs, covering critical topics such as technology, finance, marketing, and innovation management. The curriculum focused on developing growth strategies and perfecting investor pitches.
Top Innovators Awarded Seed Capital
A demo day was held where the graduating startups presented their ventures to a panel of expert judges. Three standout companies were selected as winners, each receiving $10,000 in equity-free seed capital to support their local market expansion and enhance their long-term sustainability.
The winning startups are Aziza, Tribe, and Learning Rockets.
A Diverse Cohort Driving Sustainable Goals
The program targeted early-stage startups with a minimum viable product or a proven business model. Key requirements for applicants included having at least one female founder between the ages of 18 and 35, and a business model aligned with one or more of the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
The final 11 graduating startups represent a wide range of sectors, including healthcare, e-commerce, edtech, clean energy, manufacturing, and pet insurance, showcasing the diverse impact of female innovators in the Egyptian ecosystem.
About The Women and Technology Program
The Women and Technology Program is a startup accelerator launched by Standard Chartered, AUC Venture Lab, and Village Capital under the global “Futuremakers” initiative. The program is dedicated to supporting and empowering women-led technology startups in Egypt. It provides founders with intensive training, mentorship from industry experts, and access to a network of investors to help them scale their businesses and contribute to sustainable development. Since its inception, the global initiative has supported over 4,000 women-led enterprises across 17 markets.
Source: Bloom Gate
