Standard Chartered has committed KES 22.5 million to the ninth cohort of its Women in Tech program, the bank announced at a launch event held at its Nairobi head office.
The funding takes cumulative awards under the program past KES 51.5 million since it began, across 92 women entrepreneurs.
The program is delivered through a partnership between the Standard Chartered Foundation, iBizAfrica at Strathmore University, and Village Capital.
It provides women-led, tech-enabled startups with grant funding, business training, mentorship, and connections to investors. Applications for the ninth cohort are open until April 25, with details available at www.womenintech.ke.
Joyce Kibe, Standard Chartered’s Head of Corporate Affairs, Brand, and Marketing for Kenya and Africa, said the investment was part of a broader commitment to inclusive economic growth.
“We are investing in the potential of women-led, tech-enabled businesses to solve real challenges, create jobs, and drive sustainable growth,” she said.
Dr. Joseph Sevilla, Director of iBizAfrica at Strathmore University, pointed to Africa’s expanding digital economy as the backdrop for the initiative.
He noted that Africa’s digital economy is projected to contribute the equivalent of $180 billion to regional GDP by 2026 but argued that women remain underrepresented in that growth.
“It is critical that women are not only participants but also leaders in shaping that future,” he said.
Program alumni have collectively reported generating over KES 12.5 million in revenue since participating, a figure Standard Chartered cites as evidence of the program’s commercial impact across its 92 graduates to date.
While supporting women entrepreneurs with training and mentorship is one thing, connecting them to capital is another. Village Capital’s involvement is meant to bridge that distance, though completing the program does not guarantee any participant will receive investment.
The launch brought together entrepreneurs, mentors, program alumni, and ecosystem partners. The event included presentations from past participants ahead of the opening of applications for the new cohort.
