Two major accelerator programs have launched in North Africa, marking a big leap for local tech ecosystems. Plug and Play and Technopark Morocco announced a partnership in Casablanca to help Moroccan startups scale globally as part of the country’s Maroc Digital 2030 strategy.
Meanwhile, Standard Chartered, in collaboration with AUC Venture Lab and Village Capital, launched the first Futuremakers Women in Tech accelerator in Egypt, a three-month initiative designed to support early-stage, women-led, tech-enabled businesses.
Together, these programs reflect a growing effort to support and elevate local startups through mentorship, funding, and global partnerships.
Futuremakers women in tech Egypt empowers female founders
Standard Chartered, in collaboration with AUC Venture Lab and Village Capital, officially launched the Futuremakers Women in Tech Accelerator in Egypt, its first edition in the country. Backed by Standard Chartered, the three-month program supports early-stage, tech-enabled startups founded or co-founded by women.
Participants will receive masterclasses, mentorship, and training on investment readiness. At the end of the program, selected startups will compete for up to $10,000 in equity-free funding. The initiative aims to boost Egypt’s growing female-led innovation scene while advancing gender equity in tech.
“This is a proud and powerful moment for us,” said Mohamed Gad, CEO of Standard Chartered Egypt. “We believe women entrepreneurs are catalysts for innovation and inclusive growth.”
The launch event, held in Cairo, featured a panel discussion with industry leaders including Ayman Ismail (Founding Director, AUC Venture Lab), Farah Emara (Founder, FreshSource), and Azza El Shinnawy (CEO, PortfolioTECH), moderated by Ahmed Fadl from Village Capital.
This programme is part of the global Futuremakers initiative, which has already supported over 4,000 women across 17 markets, including Nigeria, Kenya, Pakistan, and South Africa. Egypt’s edition builds on AUC Venture Lab’s track record of helping more than 1,000 entrepreneurs scale their startups since 2013.
Plug and Play and Technopark launch global accelerator in Morocco
Meanwhile, in Casablanca, Technopark Morocco and Plug and Play Tech Center signed a strategic partnership to launch a new acceleration program for Moroccan startups. Backed by the Ministry of Digital Transition and the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the initiative aligns with Morocco’s Maroc Digital 2030 strategy.
Over the next two years, the program will support over 60 startups in key sectors such as fintech, agritech, energy, and healthtech, offering intensive three-month acceleration cycles. Selected startups will receive mentoring, access to international investors, and opportunities for pilot projects with Plug and Play’s 550+ corporate partners.
“This partnership connects Moroccan innovation to global opportunities,” said Aziz El Hachem, Plug and Play’s Africa Co-Director. “We’re betting on Morocco as a launchpad for scalable African tech.”
Plug and Play’s expansion into Morocco reflects a broader interest in Africa’s tech potential. Morocco currently ranks sixth in Africa for startup funding, having raised $82 million in 2024, according to Partech. Still, local founders cite access to capital and global networks as persistent hurdles—a gap this new program hopes to fill.
A boost for North Africa’s innovation landscape
From Cairo to Casablanca, these two accelerators are a clear signal that North Africa’s innovation ambitions are accelerating. While Standard Chartered focuses on female empowerment and inclusive growth in Egypt, Plug and Play aims to position Morocco as a global startup hub.
As Amal El Fallah Seghrouchni, Minister Delegate for Digital Transition, put it: “This structuring partnership confirms Morocco’s desire to anchor its entrepreneurial ecosystem in global innovation.”
If sustained, both programmes could pave the way for a new generation of African tech founders who are ready to lead from the front.