Standard Chartered Foundation has launched the second edition of its Women in Tech Accelerator in Egypt in partnership with entrepreneurship platform Entlaq and impact investor Village Capital. The 2026 program will select 12 women-led technology startups for a structured accelerator focused on business development, mentorship, investment readiness, and access to entrepreneurial networks. At the end of the program, three participating companies will receive equity-free grants from a combined funding pool of USD 35,000.
Supporting Women-Led Technology Startups
The accelerator is designed for women-led, technology-enabled startups in Egypt that have already demonstrated market validation and are preparing to scale their operations. Entlaq will deliver the program locally, drawing on its experience in entrepreneurship research, ecosystem development, and startup support across Egypt. Selected founders will participate in specialized training and tailored mentorship aimed at improving their business capabilities, strengthening growth strategies, and preparing their companies to engage with investors.
Standard Chartered said the initiative is intended to address persistent challenges facing women entrepreneurs, particularly limited access to financing, professional networks, and specialized business support. Mohamed Gad, CEO and Head of Coverage at Standard Chartered Egypt, said women-led technology businesses are becoming an increasingly important part of the country's innovation economy and can create new avenues for growth. He added that the accelerator will give founders access to the skills and networks required to strengthen their businesses and build a stronger foundation for expansion.
Building on the First Egypt Cohort
The second edition follows the program's first Egyptian cohort, which attracted 240 applications and ultimately supported 11 startups through more than 35 training sessions and over 40 mentorship sessions and roundtables. According to Standard Chartered, the new cohort will build on those results by expanding support for women entrepreneurs and placing additional emphasis on investment readiness and business development. The accelerator is scheduled to run from September through December 2026, with participating founders progressing toward a final Demo Day.
Village Capital said outcomes from the 2025 cohort also demonstrated the commercial and employment potential of participating businesses. Senior Programme Manager Yazmin Jumaali said the founders supported through that cohort collectively reached almost 16,000 new customers, created more than 430 jobs, and generated an additional USD 2.7 million in revenue. Village Capital plans to support the new group through its wider network and experience helping early-stage businesses improve their access to financial and social capital.
Addressing the Funding Gap
Entlaq said the program also responds to findings from its Women in Entrepreneurship Report 2025, which examined structural barriers affecting women entrepreneurs across Egypt. The organization's research identified a substantial funding gap for women-led startups, estimated at USD 2.2 billion, alongside limited access to specialized mentorship and professional networks. Entlaq Co-Founder and Programmes Director Aya Ismail said the accelerator is intended to translate those findings into practical support that helps women founders build more competitive, scalable, and investment-ready businesses.
The Egypt program forms part of the broader Standard Chartered Women in Tech initiative, which has supported more than 4,000 women across 17 markets since its establishment. Standard Chartered said more than USD 600,000 in grant funding has been allocated to entrepreneurs across 12 markets this year, reflecting the initiative's focus on combining entrepreneurship support with access to capital. In Egypt, the three grant recipients will be selected from the 12 participating startups at the conclusion of the accelerator.
Applications are now open to eligible women startup founders based in Egypt, with the selected companies expected to participate in the program between September and December 2026. Through the partnership between Standard Chartered Foundation, Entlaq, and Village Capital, the accelerator aims to give women-led technology companies greater access to business expertise, mentorship, investor preparation, and equity-free funding. The second edition extends the initiative's presence in Egypt while seeking to strengthen the role of women entrepreneurs in the country's expanding technology and innovation ecosystem.