Standard Chartered Launches 7th Cohort of Women in Tech Accelerator to Empower Female Entrepreneurs

KARACHI: Standard Chartered Pakistan has officially launched the 7th Cohort of the Futuremakers Women in Tech Accelerator, continuing its mission to support female entrepreneurs in the tech ecosystem. Held in partnership with INNOVentures Global (Pvt) Ltd, this program reflects the bank’s unwavering commitment to addressing gender disparity in Pakistan’s technology and startup sectors.

Since its inception in 2019, the accelerator has played a vital role in enabling women-led startups to break through financial and structural barriers. By offering tailored mentorship, access to funding, and a nurturing support system, the initiative aims to equip women with the tools they need to grow scalable, impactful businesses.

Part of Futuremakers by Standard Chartered—the bank’s global initiative focused on reducing inequality and driving economic inclusion—the Women in Tech Accelerator stands as a flagship program for empowering female founders in Pakistan.

Rehan Shaikh, CEO of Standard Chartered Pakistan, emphasized the program’s long-standing impact. “The launch of Cohort 7 reflects our dedication to creating equitable opportunities and advancing financial inclusion for women in Pakistan,” he said. “Over the past six years, this program has provided critical seed funding and focused mentorship to female-led businesses, helping them transition from concept to sustainable ventures.”

He further shared that the accelerator has seen over 1,900 women-led startups express interest in applying, with 143 women founders graduating from the program and 43 startups receiving seed funding. These numbers highlight the growing appetite among women in Pakistan to enter the entrepreneurial space—especially in tech—and the need for supportive infrastructure to help them thrive.

The program’s success lies not only in the number of participants but in its holistic approach. Participants receive training in business modeling, financial planning, digital marketing, investor pitching, and scaling strategies. This comprehensive support ensures that even early-stage entrepreneurs gain the confidence and capacity to take their ideas forward.

Beyond business support, the initiative also challenges social norms and breaks stereotypes by proving that women can lead innovation, build tech solutions, and drive economic progress. Many of the startups nurtured through this accelerator have gone on to create jobs, serve underserved communities, and introduce digital solutions across education, healthcare, and fintech sectors.

Standard Chartered’s continuous investment in this space demonstrates its strategic alignment with Pakistan’s national goals of inclusive economic development and digital transformation. With each new cohort, the bank is not only funding ideas but also creating a ripple effect that can transform communities.

As Cohort 7 begins its journey, the spotlight remains on empowering more women to step into leadership roles in tech and entrepreneurship. The Women in Tech Accelerator is not just building businesses—it’s building a new narrative for Pakistan’s future.