In Karachi on 20th July 2023, it’s with great excitement that Standard Chartered, in collaboration with INNOVentures Global (Pvt.) Ltd., announces the launch of the 5th cohort of its Women in Tech (WiT) program in Pakistan.

As a flagship initiative of Futuremakers by Standard Chartered, the bank’s global endeavor to combat inequality and promote economic inclusion, WiT aims to bridge the gender gap in entrepreneurship. Through this program, the Bank provides support to female-led enterprises by offering business management training and mentoring through its award-winning accelerator program.

Since its launch in Pakistan in 2019, this initiative has garnered interest from over 1200 female-led enterprises, with 88 female founders actively participating in the bank’s accelerator program. Following their graduation from the accelerator, 26 of these enterprises even secured seed funding after their final pitches.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Rehan Shaikh, Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered Pakistan, emphasized the importance of banks in supporting small businesses growth and driving financial inclusion and education. WiT aligns with the Government’s agenda and represents Standard Chartered’s commitment to supporting female-led enterprises in scaling up through technology. Over the past four years, this program has evolved into an excellent platform for aspiring women entrepreneurs in Pakistan, removing barriers, providing opportunities, and promoting financial inclusion. It showcases Standard Chartered’s dedication to increasing women’s access to entrepreneurial finance and empowering adolescent girls and women through capacity building, embodying the Futuremakers community strategy of enabling the next generation to learn, earn, and grow.

Partnering with INNOVentures Global, the Standard Chartered Women in Tech program aims to foster the economic and social development of women in Pakistan by encouraging innovation and technology-led entrepreneurship. The program aims to identify and nurture female-led businesses, bringing their unique business ideas to the market while celebrating the accomplishments of women in Pakistan.

The WiT Incubators/accelerators, originally launched by Standard Chartered Americas as a local community project in October 2014, have since expanded to thirteen countries. As of April 2023, this program has positively impacted over 3200 female entrepreneurs worldwide.

Stay tuned to Brandsynario for more news and updates.