Standard Chartered has announced the launch of its Futuremakers Women in Tech Egypt Accelerator, marking a major investment in female-led technology startups. The initiative supports Egypt’s vibrant digital transformation by addressing funding gaps and strengthening support networks for women building innovation-driven ventures.
Breaking Barriers for Women Founders
During a recent interview with Arab Finance, Mohammed Gad, CEO of Standard Chartered Egypt, highlighted the persistent challenges that women entrepreneurs face in Egypt’s tech sector: limited access to capital and a lack of non-financial resources—such as market insight, business mentorship, and investor readiness.
The Futuremakers Accelerator directly tackles both issues. The top three startups will each receive US $10,000 in equity-free funding, alongside an intensive eight-week program that includes expertise in Egyptian legal frameworks, market strategy, and business scaling. The open call ensures applications from across Egypt, reinforcing the bank’s mission to support inclusive growth.
Targeting Tangible Impact Through Job Creation
Standard Chartered aims to support 400 women entrepreneurs across the region, resulting in at least 1,200 new jobs. This objective aligns with long-standing evidence showing that diverse leadership drives better business performance, stronger innovation, and broader socio‑economic growth.
“These startups are not only the future of Egypt’s innovation ecosystem,” Gad said, “they’re the engine of economic inclusion and job creation, particularly for underutilized female talent.”
Strategic and Sustainable Expansion in Egypt
Standard Chartered’s enhanced presence in Egypt goes beyond retail and commercial banking. The bank’s broader strategy extends to the industrial, real estate, tourism, and government sectors. It recently supported the Egyptian government’s US dollar bond issuance and is actively promoting foreign investment in Egypt’s debt market—steps facilitated by a favorable macroeconomic cycle, including central bank interest rate cuts and a narrowing fiscal deficit.
Global Reach, Local Empowerment
With operations in 53 countries, the bank leverages its international network to offer Egyptian startups and companies access to global partnerships, investment opportunities, and trade corridors. This approach transforms local tech ventures into globally competitive enterprises.
A New Standard for Tech and Financial Inclusion
With thousands of women-led startups gaining traction, Egypt’s digital ecosystem stands at a tipping point. Standard Chartered’s accelerator offers crucial funding and mentorship, while its broader market presence continues to reinforce digital innovation as a pillar of sustainable economic inclusion.
As Gad summarized: “This initiative is not just about funding startups—it’s about rewriting the narrative of who builds Egypt’s future.”
