Latest news with #VillageCapital
CairoScene
7 hours ago
- Business
- CairoScene
Standard Chartered Opens Tech Program for Women in Egypt
In partnership with AUC Venture Lab and Village Capital, the programme supports startups with training and equity-free funding. Jun 01, 2025 Standard Chartered, in collaboration with the AUC Venture Lab and Village Capital, has announced the launch of a new accelerator programme for women in Egypt's tech sector. The Futuremakers Women in Tech initiative looks to support women-led startups through training, mentorship, and equity-free funding. The programme is part of the broader Futuremakers initiative, a global effort funded by the Standard Chartered Foundation to promote economic inclusion. In Egypt, the accelerator will run for three years and provide participants with access to tailored business support, expert-led masterclasses, and mentorship opportunities. Selected start-ups will also be eligible for equity-free grants of up to $10,000, along with connections to international investor networks. The launch marks Egypt's entry into the global Women in Tech network, which has already reached more than 4,000 women entrepreneurs across 17 countries, including Kenya, Nigeria, the UAE, and Pakistan. The programme seeks to reinforce the role of female entrepreneurship within Egypt's expanding tech-enabled economy, where women-led ventures are increasingly viewed as important contributors to innovation and inclusive economic development. Futuremakers Women in Tech also builds on the track record of the AUC Venture Lab, which has supported over 1,000 founders since its establishment in 2013. The launch event featured a panel discussion on women in the technology sector, highlighting insights from regional industry leaders.
bnok24
4 days ago
- Business
- bnok24
Standard Chartered AUC Venture Lab and Village Capital Launch Futuremakers Women in Tech for Egyptian Entrepreneurs
Standard Chartered, AUC Venture Lab and Village Capital are thrilled to announce the launch of the inaugural Futuremakers Women in Tech accelerator program in Egypt, part of the Bank's global Futuremakers initiative and funded by the Standard Chartered Foundation. Standard Chartered is collaborating with the American University in Cairo's award-winning startup accelerator AUC Venture Lab and Village Capital to bring to Egypt, for the first time, a three-month global accelerator programme, designed specifically for visionary women entrepreneurs The groundbreaking initiative aims at fostering female entrepreneurship and innovation in the Egyptian tech-enabled sectors. The programme marks a significant step towards promoting gender diversity and inclusivity in the Egyptian technology industry Speaking at an event marking the inauguration of the programme, Mohammed Gad, CEO and Head of Banking & Coverage, Standard Chartered, Egypt, said: 'Launching Futuremakers Women in Tech in Egypt is a proud and powerful moment for us. We believe women entrepreneurs are catalysts for innovation and inclusive growth. Through this programme, we're opening doors for bold ideas and brighter futures—and we're excited to see Egypt's talent rise and lead Over the course of the next three years, Futuremakers Women in Tech Egypt will provide impact-creating, women-led startups with the tools, resources and networks needed to thrive in the rapidly evolving entrepreneurship landscape. Through a series of masterclasses, hands-on mentorship sessions and tailored investment readiness support, participants will have access to an unrivalled world-class acceleration experience while boosting their business survival rate. At the end of the programme, participants will also compete for up to USD 10,000 in equity-free funding, supporting them to grow sustainably and create long-lasting community impact 'Since 2013, we have been committed to championing Egyptian entrepreneurs and our newest program with Standard Chartered and Village Capital is another testament to that. Our programmes have helped more than 1,000 founders to date and this accelerator will help many other women build their tech-enabled ventures and connect them with investment opportunities,' said Ayman Ismail, Founding Director at AUC Venture Lab and Abdul Latif Jameel Endowed Chair of Entrepreneurship at the American University in Cairo The launch event featured keynote speeches by Rola Abu Manneh, CEO, MENAP, Standard Chartered and Sherif Kamel, Dean at AUC Onsi Sawiris School of Business as well as an enriching panel discussion about the future of female-led startups in the region featuring: AUC Venture Lab Director Ayman Ismail, Standard Chartered Egypt's CEO Mohamed Gad, Dr. Azza El Shinnawy, Co-founder and CEO of PortfolioTECH, Farah Emara, Founder of Fresh Source, and moderated by Village Capital's Senior Program Manager Ahmed Fadl While this is the first cohort in Egypt, Futuremakers by Standard Chartered has been longstanding in other markets including Bahrain, Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia , South Africa*, UAE, Uganda and Zambia. To date, the initiative has supported 4,000 women founders across 17 markets Google News تابعونا على تابعونا على تطبيق نبض
Zawya
4 days ago
- Business
- Zawya
Standard Chartered, AUC Venture Lab and Village Capital launch Futuremakers Women in Tech for Egyptian entrepreneurs
Cairo, Egypt – Standard Chartered, AUC Venture Lab and Village Capital are thrilled to announce the launch of the inaugural Futuremakers Women in Tech accelerator program in Egypt, part of the Bank's global Futuremakers initiative and funded by the Standard Chartered Foundation. Standard Chartered is collaborating with the American University in Cairo's award-winning startup accelerator AUC Venture Lab and Village Capital to bring to Egypt, for the first time, a three-month global accelerator programme, designed specifically for visionary women entrepreneurs. The groundbreaking initiative aims at fostering female entrepreneurship and innovation in the Egyptian tech-enabled sectors. The programme marks a significant step towards promoting gender diversity and inclusivity in the Egyptian technology industry. Speaking at an event marking the inauguration of the programme, Mohammed Gad, CEO and Head of Banking & Coverage, Standard Chartered, Egypt, said: 'Launching Futuremakers Women in Tech in Egypt is a proud and powerful moment for us. We believe women entrepreneurs are catalysts for innovation and inclusive growth. Through this programme, we're opening doors for bold ideas and brighter futures—and we're excited to see Egypt's talent rise and lead.' Over the course of the next three years, Futuremakers Women in Tech Egypt will provide impact-creating, women-led startups with the tools, resources and networks needed to thrive in the rapidly evolving entrepreneurship landscape. Through a series of masterclasses, hands-on mentorship sessions and tailored investment readiness support, participants will have access to an unrivalled world-class acceleration experience while boosting their business survival rate. At the end of the programme, participants will also compete for up to USD 10,000 in equity-free funding, supporting them to grow sustainably and create long-lasting community impact. 'Since 2013, we have been committed to championing Egyptian entrepreneurs and our newest program with Standard Chartered and Village Capital is another testament to that. Our programmes have helped more than 1,000 founders to date and this accelerator will help many other women build their tech-enabled ventures and connect them with investment opportunities,' said Ayman Ismail, Founding Director at AUC Venture Lab and Abdul Latif Jameel Endowed Chair of Entrepreneurship at the American University in Cairo. The launch event featured keynote speeches by Rola Abu Manneh, CEO, MENAP, Standard Chartered and Sherif Kamel, Dean at AUC Onsi Sawiris School of Business as well as an enriching panel discussion about the future of female-led startups in the region featuring: AUC Venture Lab Director Ayman Ismail, Standard Chartered Egypt's CEO Mohamed Gad, Dr. Azza El Shinnawy, Co-founder and CEO of PortfolioTECH, Farah Emara, Founder of Fresh Source, and moderated by Village Capital's Senior Program Manager Ahmed Fadl. While this is the first cohort in Egypt, Futuremakers by Standard Chartered has been longstanding in other markets including Bahrain, Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabiai, South Africa*, UAE, Uganda and Zambia. To date, the initiative has supported 4,000 women founders across 17 markets. *Funding for Futuremakers Women in Tech in Saudi Arabia and South Africa is from Standard Chartered not Standard Chartered Foundation. Further Information Media Contacts Wasim Benkhadra Head of Communications, UAE, ME & Pakistan and Africa Corporate & Investment Banking Communications Lead Standard Chartered Nour Ibrahim Marketing and Communications Manager, AUC Venture Lab About Standard Chartered Foundation The Standard Chartered Foundation (SCF) is a charitable organization that tackles inequality by promoting greater economic inclusion for disadvantaged young people, particularly young women, and people with disabilities. Its programmes focus on employability and entrepreneurship, helping young entrepreneurs and jobseekers access the skills, networks, opportunities, and support they need to achieve economic power and participation. Established in 2019, SCF is a registered charity in England and Wales (charity number 1184946) and is the lead delivery partner for Futuremakers by Standard Chartered, a global youth economic empowerment initiative. About Standard Chartered We are a leading international banking group, with a presence in 53 of the world's most dynamic markets. Our purpose is to drive commerce and prosperity through our unique diversity, and our heritage and values are expressed in our brand promise, here for good. Standard Chartered PLC is listed on the London and Hong Kong stock exchanges. For more stories and expert opinions please visit Insights at Follow Standard Chartered on X, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook. About the American University in Cairo and Venture Lab Founded in 1919, The American University in Cairo (AUC) is a leading English-language, American- accredited institution of higher education and center of the intellectual, social, and cultural life of the Arab world. It is a vital bridge between East and West, linking Egypt and the region to the world through scholarly research, partnerships with academic and research institutions and study abroad programs. The University offers 39 undergraduate, 52 master's and two PhD programs rooted in a liberal arts education that encourages students to think critically and find creative solutions to conflicts and challenges facing both the region and the world. An independent, nonprofit, politically non-partisan, non-sectarian and equal opportunity institution, AUC is fully accredited in Egypt and the United States. AUC Venture Lab (V-Lab) is Egypt's first university-based accelerator and a holder of 10 international awards as the top accelerator in the Middle East and Africa. With a mission to help entrepreneurs launch, grow and scale their innovative startups and provide a learning and research platform for the AUC community to engage with entrepreneurs, V-Lab has supported thousands of founders turn their business solutions into viable, scalable and investment-ready tech startups. Since 2013, V-Lab has graduated 300+ startups from its flagship accelerators which went on to create 12K+ job opportunities and raise more than 5 Billion EGP in funding. V-Lab's portfolio includes: Swvl (the first Egyptian unicorn to list on Nasdaq - tech and mobility), Koinz (F&B), ElGameya (fintech), Rology (health-tech), Dentacarts (e-commerce), Klickit (payments) and Orcas (education). Learn more at About Village Capital Village Capital (VilCap) is reinventing the system to back the entrepreneurs of the future. Known for its groundbreaking approaches to supporting founders who are building solutions to emergent environmental, social, and economic challenges, VilCap unlocks critical social and financial capital for early-stage companies to maximize business and impact growth. Village Capital has operated in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) since 2018, running over 11 accelerator programs. VilCap has supported more than 120 locally-based startups working in sectors such as data tech, financial health, green tech, and health equity. Learn more at and follow @villagecapital.
Zawya
07-05-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Standard Chartered partners with UAE-based impact platform ‘C3' to accelerate women-led tech startups
United Arab Emirates– Standard Chartered announced today the launch of the seventh cohort of the Futuremakers Women in Tech UAE Accelerator, in partnership with C3 – Companies Creating Change (C3) and Village Capital. The initiative is part of Standard Chartered's global Futuremakers programme, which aims to promote economic inclusion for disadvantaged young people. In the UAE, the accelerator focuses on supporting women-led tech startups through tailored training, catalytic funding, and access to world-class networks. C3 will deliver the programme locally, leveraging its proven expertise in entrepreneur support and ecosystem development. Through the initiative, selected startups will have access to up to 550,000 AED (USD 150,000) in equity-free funding from the Standard Chartered Foundation. Across all participating markets, more than AED 2.2 million (USD 600,000) in catalytic grants will be distributed annually. Founders will also benefit from a bespoke curriculum, expert mentorship, and exposure to regional and global investors. Rola Abu Manneh, Chief Executive Officer, UAE, Middle East and Pakistan, at Standard Chartered, said: 'The Futuremakers Women in Tech Accelerator reflects our commitment to advancing economic inclusion and empowering women entrepreneurs to thrive. Launching our seventh cohort in the UAE is a testament to our long-standing support for the UAE's entrepreneurial ecosystem, and to helping innovative, women-led businesses access the resources, networks, and funding they need to scale their impact. It also underlines our broader commitment to championing women's empowerment and advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion across the communities we serve.' With women entrepreneurs continuing to face systemic barriers to scaling their businesses, the three-year initiative is designed to help them overcome those challenges. Through the accelerator, 400 women founders across the wider region will benefit from tailored investment-readiness support, grant funding, and mentorship opportunities that will enable their ventures to grow sustainably and create long-lasting community impact. Kevin Holliday, Managing Director, C3, said: 'We are proud to partner with Standard Chartered once again for the Futuremakers Women in Tech programme, and are excited to welcome Village Capital on board this year. At C3, we're focused on backing purpose-driven founders with the tools and connections they need to scale. This initiative reflects the power of collaboration in creating real opportunities for underrepresented entrepreneurs across the UAE.' The Standard Chartered Futuremakers Women in Tech Accelerator builds on the successful global track record of the Women in Tech initiative, which has supported over 4,000 women across 17 markets since inception. Applications for the 2025 cohort are now open. Further information Media contact Khaled Abdulla, CFA® Director, Head of Communications Corporate Affairs, Brand & Marketing United Arab Emirates M: +971 55 655 7553 T: +971 4 508 3155 Simran Randhawa +44 7564 584423
Zawya
05-03-2025
- Business
- Zawya
Standard Chartered boosts investment in its Futuremakers Women in tech programme across Africa, the Middle East and Pakistan
Africa, Middle East, Pakistan – Standard Chartered today announced a partnership with Village Capital to continue and expand its Futuremakers Women in Tech Accelerator across Africa, the Middle East, and Pakistan. Part of Futuremakers by Standard Chartered (Futuremakers), the Bank's global youth economic empowerment initiative for disadvantaged young people, and with funding from the Standard Chartered Foundation. Futuremakers Women in Tech Accelerator will provide specialised training, catalytic funding, and access to a global network of peers, finance providers, industry leaders, and ecosystem partners. Over three years, 400 women entrepreneurs will receive support to build thriving microbusinesses, create jobs, and drive lasting social and environmental impact. The initiative aims to: Provide more than 32 catalytic grants totalling almost USD1.9m Enable and support over 1,200 jobs. Delivered in collaboration with local expert implementing partners, the Accelerator will be available across 12 of Standard Chartered's markets, continuing in Bahrain, Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia*, South Africa*, UAE, and Zambia, and expanding to two new markets – Uganda and Egypt. Tanuj Kapilashrami, Chief Strategy and Talent Officer at Standard Chartered, said: 'Empowering women is critical to economic growth, and central to our stand of lifting participation by unleashing the financial potential of women and small businesses. We believe equitable access to funding and resources is essential to fostering innovation and driving meaningful social impact – whether it be through our Futuremakers philanthropic programmes, our banking propositions such as the SC Women's International Network, or the work we do towards supporting a diverse supplier base. Through the Futuremakers Women in Tech Accelerator, we are addressing the systemic challenges women microbusiness owners face, creating pathways for them to scale their businesses which will, in turn, help drive positive change in their communities.' Highlighting the partnership's impact, Rachel Crawford, Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at Village Capital, said: 'Our partnership with Standard Chartered is a gamechanger for women-led start-ups across Africa, the Middle East, and Pakistan. By providing critical resources, catalytic capital, and market-level support, we aim to drive inclusive economic growth and ensure that women entrepreneurs can scale their businesses and impact communities at a transformative level.' Commenting on the impact of the programme, a Women in Tech alumna, Priscilla, CEO and Co-Founder of Rhea, a microbusiness based in Kenya, said: 'The Women in Tech programme has been a gamechanger for my company. It not only provided access to crucial capital, but also a start-up support system that is tailored for women entrepreneurs to ensure they can align their businesses for impact. I've gained the financial tools, mentorship, and network needed to scale my business with confidence.' Launching Futuremakers Women in Tech Applications for the 2025 Futuremakers Women in Tech Accelerator will open in late April. Participants will receive investment-readiness training, personalised development plans, and expert mentorship, working with advisors and industry leaders to strengthen their business models and access networking opportunities. More than USD600K in grant funding for entrepreneurs will be distributed annually across markets. Since launching more than a decade ago, Women in Tech has helped more than 4,000 women across 17 of Standard Chartered's markets. Today's news follows the announcement that Futuremakers Women in Tech is continuing in the US, with applications already underway. Futuremakers Women in Tech is one of several programmes that aim to tackle inequality and empower disadvantaged young people. Since launching in 2019, Futuremakers has enabled and supported more than 88,900 jobs. * Funding for Futuremakers Women in Tech in Saudi Arabia and South Africa is from Standard Chartered not Standard Chartered Foundation. For further information please contact: Wasim Ben Khadra (WBK) Global Communications Lead, Corporate & Investment Banking (CIB) Head of Communications, UAE, Middle East, Pakistan and Africa Standard Chartered T: +97156 508 0106 M: +9714 508 3221 Eva Waweru Village Capital
