Standard Chartered, in partnership with the American University in Cairo’s AUC Venture Lab and Village Capital, has announced the graduation of the first cohort of the Women in Tech program under the global Futuremakers initiative, funded by the Standard Chartered Foundation. The program aims to empower women entrepreneurs in technology-driven sectors and promote a more inclusive and gender-diverse startup ecosystem in Egypt.
Rigorous Selection Process and Intensive Training
The selection process spanned more than three months, during which the program received over 240 applications.
From these, 12 women-led startups were chosen, and 11 companies successfully completed the program.
Throughout the training period, participants received:
- More than 35 training sessions
- Over 40 mentorship meetings and discussion panels
- Guidance from experts and investors in technology, finance, marketing, and innovation management
The program focused on developing business strategies, scaling models, and investor-readiness.
Three Winning Startups Awarded Equity-Free Funding
During the final pitch event, startups presented their projects to a jury that included representatives from:
- Standard Chartered Egypt
- The American University in Cairo
- Village Capital
- Dar Ventures
- Additional global experts and institutions
The winning startups—Aziza, Tribe, and Learning Rockets—were selected based on their performance. Each received $10,000 in equity-free seed funding to support sustainable growth and enhance their long-term impact.
Program Leaders Highlight Its National Impact
Mohamed Gad, CEO and Head of Corporate, Commercial and Institutional Banking at Standard Chartered Egypt, stated that the graduation of the first Women in Tech cohort marks an important milestone in advancing women’s participation in the tech sector. He affirmed the bank’s continued commitment to expanding the initiative and supporting an inclusive digital economy.
Dr. Ayman Ismail, Founding Director of AUC Venture Lab and Abdul Latif Jameel Endowed Chair of Entrepreneurship at the AUC School of Business, highlighted the dedication of the 11 participating founders and the program’s role in strengthening their skills, expanding their networks, and enhancing their venture readiness. He emphasized the value of collaborating with Standard Chartered and Village Capital to deliver a program aligned with real entrepreneurial needs.
Program Goals and Participating Sectors
The Women in Tech program is designed to:
- Support early-stage startups led by women
- Strengthen strategic planning, growth capabilities, and investor pitching
- Encourage solutions aligned with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
Participating sectors included:
- Healthcare
- E-commerce
- Edtech
- Clean energy
- Manufacturing
- Pet insurance technology
Futuremakers Initiative
The Women in Tech program is part of Standard Chartered’s broader Futuremakers initiative, active in multiple markets including Bahrain, Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, the UAE, Uganda, and Zambia.
To date, the initiative has supported over 4,000 women-led enterprises across 17 countries, reinforcing its status as a significant global driver of economic inclusion.
