Standard Chartered Launches Women in Tech Accelerator UAE

• Standard Chartered Foundation has announced the launch of the eighth edition of the Women in Tech Accelerator in UAE
• The initiative targets women-led, tech-enabled startups that operate at a certain growth stage

The Standard Chartered Foundation, in partnership with Village Capital, has announced the launch of the eighth edition of the Women in Tech Accelerator Programme in the UAE.

This program continues to support women-led tech-enabled startups at a critical juncture of their journey.

The 2026 program seeks to provide founders with investment readiness training, catalytic funding, and global networks to support business development and scale up.

To run the program in the UAE, C3, a B Corp™ certified consultancy firm, has been selected to deliver the program due to its expertise in supporting entrepreneurs and developing entrepreneurship ecosystems.

Rola Abu Manneh, Chief Executive Officer UAE, Middle East, and Pakistan, Standard Chartered, said: “The launch of this edition of the program is in line with the UAE’s efforts to diversify its economy and establish a knowledge-based economy. This program is also in line with our aim of enabling women entrepreneurs to access capital, networks, and expertise to support business development and overall economic engagement.”

Since its inception in the UAE, the accelerator has supported 61 women-led startups. In 2025, 92 percent of participants developed a plan for growing their businesses, and 83 percent also experienced improved performance.

The alumni of this program include Biosapien, which secured USD 7 million in pre-Series A funding, and Ostaz, which was acquired by Inspired Education Group. Five startups participating in this program were also featured on the UAE Future 100 list by the Ministry of Economy.

Nakami Walunywa, Regional Director for Africa and the Middle East, Village Capital, said, “In 2025, women-led startups participating in our program in Africa, the Middle East, and Pakistan generated more than USD 2 million in additional revenue.” He further said, “In 2026, we will continue to support women-led startups through structured support and funding to enable them to grow sustainably.”