AUC Venture Lab Opens Applications For Its Spring 2026 Accelerator Program
Since its launch in 2013, the Egypt-based AUC Venture Lab has supported more than 374 startups that have collectively raised US$356 million.
The American University of Cairo Venture Lab (AUC Venture Lab), Egypt’s first university-based accelerator, has opened applications for Cycle 26 of its program, which will run from February 1 to June 30, 2026.
The AUC Venture Lab provides founders with structured assumption-testing to help validate their business models, a commercial traction phase that focuses on growth tactics and mentor matchmaking, as well as access to scaling playbooks that support early revenue and customer validation.
Startups also receive investment readiness support through curated introductions to venture capital firms, angels, and institutional investors in Egypt. The program is also equity-free, funded by AUC Venture Lab’s corporate partners, thereby allowing founders to retain full ownership of their cap tables.
The AUC Venture Lab focuses on high-growth, innovation-driven startups across a range of sectors, including fintech, artificial intelligence (AI), green economy, healthtech, e-commerce, logistics, internet of things (IoT), edtech, energy, sustainability, food, and creative industries. Startups are selected through an evaluation process that considers the novelty of the idea, scalability, commercial potential, and team cohesion.
AUC Venture Lab runs two accelerator cycles each year. The three-month program supports ventures across a wide range of industries, including aerospace, agriculture, biotechnology, business services, clean technology, construction, digital marketing, electronics, financial services, gaming, healthcare, industrial energy, legal, marine, mobility, nanotechnology, oil and gas, real estate, retail, robotics, security, semiconductors, software, sports, telecommunications, and travel.
Since its launch in 2013, AUC Venture Lab has supported more than 374 startups that have collectively raised US$356 million. The lab offers business design tools, networking opportunities, and access to a community of AUC alumni, faculty, mentors, and investors.
Early-stage tech startups with a minimum viable product (MVP) and initial traction are invited to apply for the AUC Venture Lab before the January 17, 2026 deadline via this link.
