Standard Chartered, in partnership with Entlaq and Village Capital, has launched the 2026 edition of its Women in Tech programme in Egypt, expanding support for women-led technology startups and entrepreneurs.
The programme will support 12 women-led technology startups through investment-readiness training, business development support and tailored mentorship designed to address the specific needs of each company.
At the end of the programme, three winning startups will receive non-dilutive grants totaling $35,000.
The programme is designed for women-led technology startups that have already demonstrated market viability and are ready to move into their next stage of growth and expansion.
Entlaq will implement the programme in Egypt, drawing on its experience in supporting entrepreneurs and contributing to the development of the country’s entrepreneurship ecosystem.
Expanding Opportunities for Women-Led Technology Startups
Mohamed Gad, CEO and Head of Banking and Coverage at Standard Chartered Egypt, said women-led technology companies are playing an increasingly important role in Egypt’s innovation economy by bringing new ideas to the market and creating new opportunities for growth.
He said the Women in Tech programme provides startups with the tools, expertise and global business networks they need to strengthen their businesses and prepare for their next stage of growth.
The first edition of the programme in Egypt received 240 applications and supported 11 startups through more than 35 training sessions, over 40 mentoring sessions and roundtable discussions.
The second edition builds on these results by expanding the support available to women-led technology startups.
Strong Results from the 2025 Cohort
Yasmine Gamal, Senior Programmes Manager at Village Capital, said the results achieved by the 2025 cohort demonstrate the tangible impact that targeted support can have on women entrepreneurs.
She noted that participating companies collectively reached nearly 16,000 new customers, created more than 430 jobs and generated an additional $2.7 million in revenue.
The programme will continue working with the new cohort of women entrepreneurs to help them develop their companies, expand their operations and create sustainable impact.
Aya Ismail, Co-Founder and Programmes Director at Entlaq, said women-led startups continue to receive only a limited share of available funding and face an estimated $2.2 billion funding gap, alongside limited access to specialized mentorship programmes and professional networks.
A Global Programme Supporting Women Entrepreneurs
Standard Chartered’s Women in Tech programme has a strong global track record, having supported more than 4,000 women across 17 markets since its launch.
This year, the programme has allocated more than $600,000 in grants for entrepreneurs across 12 markets.
In Egypt, participating startups will compete for a total of $35,000 in non-dilutive cash prizes during the final pitch day, providing further opportunities for women-led technology businesses to strengthen their operations and accelerate growth.
