Standard Chartered, through its Futuremakers initiative and with funding from the Standard Chartered Foundation, has partnered with Village Capital to expand its Futuremakers Women in Tech Accelerator across Africa, the Middle East, and Pakistan.
Futuremakers, Standard Chartered’s global youth economic empowerment initiative for disadvantaged young people, and the Standard Chartered Foundation are providing the financial backing for the Futuremakers Women in Tech Accelerator.
This program will offer specialised training, nearly USD 1.9 million in catalytic grant funding, and access to a global network of peers, finance providers, industry leaders, and ecosystem partners.
Over three years, the initiative aims to support 400 women entrepreneurs in building thriving microbusinesses, creating jobs, and driving lasting social and environmental impact. Key objectives include:
- Distributing over 32 catalytic grants totaling approximately USD 1.9 million.
- Enabling and supporting over 1,200 jobs.
Delivered in collaboration with local expert implementing partners, the Accelerator will be available in 12 Standard Chartered markets: Bahrain, Botswana, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, UAE, Uganda, and Zambia.
Tanuj Kapilashrami, Chief Strategy and Talent Officer at Standard Chartered, stated, “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 game changer 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, personalized development plans, and expert mentorship, working with advisors and industry leaders to strengthen their business models and access networking opportunities.
More than USD 600,000 in grant funding will be distributed annually across the participating 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 programs that aim to tackle inequality and empower disadvantaged young people. Since launching in 2019, Futuremakers has enabled and supported more than 88,900 jobs.
