Here to support your business

The Standard Chartered Foundation 8th Edition continues its commitment to supporting women entrepreneurs across the region.

Through this programme, we aim to:

• Support women in growing and scaling their businesses
• Build connections within the entrepreneurial ecosystem
• Provide access to expert mentorship
• Unlock funding opportunities for innovative ventures

Together, we continue empowering resilient women entreprenerurs and enabling them to thrive and lead impactful business.

What is the selection criteria?

• Have a gender-diverse team with at least one female co-founder
• Have an early-stage startup operational for one year with at least a Minimum Viable Product (Seed-stage and pre-series A startups)
• Demonstrate that the solution is innovative and scalable
• Demonstrate the technology’s sustainable impact (environmental, social or economic)
• Be registered and operating in the UAE and be available for the duration of programme activities and events (taking place both in-person and online)

What is in it for you?

• Up to USD 150,000 in equity-free funding from Standard Chartered Bank
• Opportunity to access the global networks of Standard Chartered and C3
• Tailored workshops designed to help you scale with confidence
• Expert support across key areas from business strategy to impactful governance

What our past cohorts say:

“Winning the Standard Chartered Women in Tech program was a transformative moment for Taqwa Invest. It not only validated our commitment to empowering Muslims in financial matters but also fueled our passion. The recognition and support empowered us to break barriers, offering Shariah-compliant investment solutions and enabling our community to invest freely, marking a shift from challenges to empowerment.” Dr. Areeba Khan – Founder of Taqwa Invest

“Since joining the Standard Chartered’s Women in Tech 2024 program, we have expanded to Singapore and Saudi Arabia. The program provided invaluable mentorship and opportunities, accelerating our growth and impact. As we continue to push the boundaries of R&D and community engagement, we remain committed to driving meaningful change for a more sustainable future”  Virko Yu – Founder of Archieef

“Being a part of Women in Tech was integral to our closing the financing round. It allowed us to build relationships and understand the GCC ecosystem from a different lens. Winning first place allowed us to push our mission”  Dr. Khatija Ali – Founder of Biosapien

Apply now and join a community dedicated to empowering women founders and supporting the growth of their businesses across the region

Apply now