Standard Chartered has announced a partnership with Village Capital to expand its Futuremakers Women in Tech Accelerator across Africa, the Middle East, and Pakistan. This initiative, part of the bank's global youth economic empowerment program for disadvantaged young people, aims to provide women-led start-ups with essential skills, financing, and networks over three years.
The program will offer specialized training, catalytic funding, and access to a global network of peers and industry leaders. 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.”
Rachel Crawford from Village Capital commented on the partnership's impact: “Our partnership with Standard Chartered is a gamechanger for women-led start-ups across Africa, the Middle East, and Pakistan.” The initiative plans to provide more than 32 catalytic grants totaling almost USD1.9 million and support over 1,200 jobs.
Applications for the 2025 accelerator will open in late April. Participants will receive investment-readiness training and expert mentorship. Since its inception over a decade ago, Women in Tech has supported more than 4,000 women across 17 markets.
Priscilla from Kenya shared her experience: “The Women in Tech programme has been a gamechanger for my company.” The initiative continues to operate in various countries while expanding into Uganda and Egypt.
For further information contact Wasim Ben Khadra at Standard Chartered or Eva Waweru at Village Capital.