Applications are open for the 2026 Standard Chartered Foundation Women in Tech Accelerator, and the window for women-led tech startups across Africa, the Middle East, and Pakistan to apply is closing fast.
The Standard Chartered Foundation, in partnership with Village Capital and local implementing partners across twelve markets, will distribute more than USD 600,000 in grant funding in 2026 to founders building technology-driven businesses with measurable impact. If you lead a startup that solves real problems and you operate in Bahrain, Botswana, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, UAE, Uganda, or Zambia, this programme was built for you.
What selected founders receive
Funding is only part of what the accelerator delivers. Selected founders gain access to a network of peers, mentors, and industry leaders, alongside a personalised development plan matched to their startup’s stage and needs. Intensive training sharpens investment readiness, tightens business models, and stress-tests growth strategies.
The grant matters. What travels with it matters more: credibility, connections, and a clear path toward scaling.
The results speak for themselves
In its first year, the programme distributed more than USD 550,000 in grants to 21 women-led startups. The 2025 cohort reached nearly 16,000 new customers, created more than 430 jobs, and grew collective revenues by USD 2.7 million. These are not projections. They are outcomes from founders who applied, got selected, and got to work.
Who runs the programme in your country
The accelerator operates through trusted local partners who understand each market on the ground. In Botswana, The Dream Factory leads delivery. The Ghana Climate Innovation Center runs the programme in Ghana. Nigeria’s cohort works with the Enterprise Development Centre, while South African founders go through WomHub. Uganda’s entrepreneurs are supported by Innovation Village, and Zambia’s applicants apply through BongoHive.
For Egypt, Kenya, Bahrain, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE, visit the official Standard Chartered Foundation Women in Tech Accelerator webpage to confirm the local implementing partner for your market.
