Empowering the Next Generation of Women Entrepreneurs in Tech
In a major boost for female entrepreneurship in Egypt, Standard Chartered, in collaboration with The American University in Cairo (AUC) Venture Lab and Village Capital, has launched the Futuremakers Women in Tech accelerator. This exciting initiative aims to support women-led tech startups with mentorship. It also includes training, and access to equity-free funding—paving the way for a more inclusive and innovative tech ecosystem.
What’s the Program All About?
The Women in Tech accelerator is part of Standard Chartered’s global Futuremakers initiative. This program focusses on tackling nequality and promote economic inclusion. In Egypt, the programme will run over three months, offering women founders a unique opportunity to:
- âś… Receive expert-led business development and investment readiness training
- âś… Access a wide network of mentors, investors, and tech professionals
- âś… Compete for up to $10,000 in equity-free funding
- âś… Join a global community of women innovators
The initiative is fully funded by the Standard Chartered Foundation, underlining the bank’s long-term commitment to female empowerment and sustainable development.
Backed by Strong Leadership
Mohammed Gad, CEO and Head of Banking & Coverage at Standard Chartered Egypt, shared his excitement about the programme:
“This is a proud and powerful moment for us. We believe women entrepreneurs are catalysts for innovation and inclusive growth.”
Ayman Ismail, Founding Director of AUC Venture Lab, echoed this sentiment, saying:
“Our newest programme with Standard Chartered and Village Capital will help more women build their tech-enabled ventures and connect with investors.”
Since 2013, AUC Venture Lab has supported more than 1,000 founders, and this new initiative will further deepen its impact—specifically by elevating women in Egypt’s fast-growing tech economy.
Launch Highlights
The accelerator program began with a high-energy event that featured insights from:
- Rola Abu Manneh, CEO MENAP at Standard Chartered
- Sherif Kamel, Dean of the AUC School of Business
A special panel discussion on “Women in Tech” also took center stage, with notable voices including:
- Dr. Azza El Shinnawy, PortfolioTECH
- Farah Emara, founder of Fresh Source
Together, they discussed the current challenges and opportunities for women in Egypt’s startup scene, sparking important conversations about gender equity in the tech industry.
Global Footprint, Local Impact
This launch marks Egypt’s first participation in the Futuremakers Women in Tech initiative, which has already supported over 4,000 women entrepreneurs in 17 countries—including Kenya, Nigeria, the UAE, and Pakistan.
By bringing this program to Egypt, Standard Chartered and its partners are unlocking new opportunities for homegrown women innovators to scale their ventures and lead the future of Egypt’s digital economy.