This initiative aims to empower women entrepreneurs by providing funding, mentorship, and access to key industry networks. The Women in Tech Accelerator is part of Futuremakers by Standard Chartered, the bank’s global youth economic empowerment initiative for disadvantaged young people. With funding from the Standard Chartered Foundation, the programme will provide specialised training, catalytic funding, and access to a global network of finance providers, industry leaders, and ecosystem partners.
According to Standard Chartered, over the next three years, 400 women entrepreneurs will receive support to develop thriving microbusinesses, create jobs, and contribute to lasting social and environmental impact. The initiative plans to award more than 32 catalytic grants totaling nearly $1.9 million and support over 1, 200 jobs. The accelerator will be available in 12 Standard Chartered markets, including Bahrain, Botswana, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, UAE, and Zambia. Additionally, it will expand into Uganda and Egypt, increasing its reach to more women-led businesses. Chief Strategy and Talent Officer at Standard Chartered, Tanuj Kapilashrami, emphasised the importance of empowering women for economic growth. “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,” Kapilashrami said.
“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,” Kapilashrami. For her part, Rachel Crawford, Chief Strategy and Innovation Officer at Village Capital, highlighted the impact of the partnership. “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,” she said.
A past participant, Priscilla, CEO and Co-Founder of Rhea, a microbusiness in Kenya, shared her experience. “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 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.” 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 USD 600K 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.
