SCWomenInTech awards 7 companies Rs1.5mn each in seed grants

Standard Chartered Bank Pakistan, partnered with INNOVentures Global (Pvt.) Limited, to launch the Standard Chartered Women In Tech Program 2021, the winners for which were recently announced.

The Women in Tech (WiT) program was first launched in 2014 by Standard Chartered America, with Standard Chartered introducing the program in Pakistan in 2019. As a result of this initiative, 70 businesses have been provided with extensive training, coaching and mentoring sessions. The WiT program specifically aims to support women-led ventures through business management training, mentoring, and seed funding, because the program’s ultimate aim is to bridge the gender gap in the technology industry.

With respect to the 2021 WiT program, 25 teams out of 350 applicants were shortlisted, with 7 teams being awarded as winners, with the provision of a Rs.1.5 million seed grant for each team. The 25 teams selected for the program underwent three months of training which covered coaching, mentoring and business management skills needed to expand their businesses. 

The winning teams include: Civixa, Out Class, Storytellers Club, Abey Khao, Cheezain Etc., MediQ, and SLOSH AI. Standard Chartered will extend its support to the winners through mentoring and a milestone-based disbursement of the grant over the course of nine months.