CIB Partners with Lantern Ventures to Expand SME Support

STARTUP VENTURE CAPITALJune 5, 2025 at 11:24 PM UTC

TLDR

Commercial International Bank (CIB) has partnered with Lantern Ventures to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Egypt
Lantern Ventures offers business development services including legal, HR, commercial, and IT solutions
The move is part of CIB’s broader strategy to increase financial and non-financial support for the country’s SME sector

Commercial International Bank (CIB), Egypt’s largest private-sector bank, has partnered with Lantern Ventures, a venture studio, to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in Egypt. The move is part of CIB’s broader strategy to increase financial and non-financial support for the country’s SME sector.

Lantern Ventures offers business development services including legal, HR, commercial, and IT solutions. The firm also helps entrepreneurs improve operations, manage risk, and access capital. Through this partnership, CIB will refer eligible SMEs to Lantern Ventures to receive these services alongside tailored financial support.

Lantern Ventures also works with participants from Shark Tank Egypt, helping them scale their businesses and improve operational efficiency. The collaboration allows CIB to extend its reach to startups and growth-stage businesses that may not yet meet traditional lending criteria but show high potential.

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Key Takeaways

Small and medium-sized enterprises account for nearly 98% of Egypt’s private sector businesses and contribute over 40% to GDP, according to the International Finance Corporation. However, access to finance remains a major challenge. The World Bank estimates that Egypt’s SME financing gap exceeds $46 billion. Banks like CIB are under increasing pressure to support the sector, especially after regulatory reforms from the Central Bank of Egypt that mandate higher SME loan quotas. Partnerships with firms like Lantern Ventures help banks provide more comprehensive solutions beyond lending, including operational support and business development. These collaborations are critical as Egypt looks to create jobs and reduce reliance on the public sector. With inflation and currency devaluation challenging business sustainability, enabling SMEs to access structured support can drive resilience and long-term economic growth.

Startups

Venture Capital

Commercial International Bank (CIB)

Banking

Lantern Ventures