The Seedstars-led accelerator awarded cash prizes to startups from Morocco, Jordan and Uganda, while 22 businesses across nine markets were selected for further coaching and investment-readiness support.
SANAD ElevateHer has selected 22 startups for further coaching and investment-readiness support following a pitching competition held at Techne Summit Alexandria in Egypt on October 3, 2026.
Morocco’s MIRRIAH, Jordan’s SmartWTI and Uganda’s Freza Nanotech received the programme’s three cash prizes, announced on October 4 at a networking event hosted by Seedstars in Alexandria.
MIRRIAH provides solar-powered irrigation systems for smallholder farmers and trains rural women and young people to install and sell them. SmartWTI uses connected sensors to monitor water consumption and detect leaks, while Freza Nanotech develops solutions to preserve fruit and vegetables in areas with limited access to cold storage.
22 Startups Selected Across Nine Markets
The 22 selected businesses operate across Egypt, Ghana, Jordan, Kenya, Lebanon, Morocco, Tunisia, Uganda and Zimbabwe.
Egyptian startups EcoDahab, which provides sustainability assessments for small businesses, and TSNGF, which develops plant-waste biofilters for wastewater reuse, are among those advancing to the next stage.
The selected companies span sectors including agriculture, clean technology, water management, recycling, logistics, financial services and digital solutions for small businesses.
Other participants include Morocco’s Jafife, which uses solar drying to reduce food loss; Tunisia’s GoToGreen, which provides product carbon-footprint assessments and digital passports; and Kenya’s Soko Kijiji, which supports digital market access for women traders.
From Acceleration to Investment Readiness
Delivered by Seedstars, SANAD ElevateHer supports 38 startups ranging from prototype development to growth stage. The programme works with women-led businesses and companies that expand women’s participation through ownership, leadership, employment or their customer base.
Its first phase combined workshops, individual mentoring and practical work on business models and growth. Training in Marrakech covered pricing, unit economics, business development, sales and investor readiness, followed by a founders’ bootcamp focused on programme milestones and refining pitches for investors and partners.
The 22 selected businesses will now receive additional tailored guidance on fundraising, partnerships and scaling.
SANAD ElevateHer is funded by the SANAD Fund for MSME through its advisory and capacity-building arm, managed by Finance in Motion GmbH. The initiative aims to help entrepreneurs strengthen their businesses, prepare for financing and build connections with investors and financial institutions.
