Standard Chartered launches call for applications for Cohort 5 of Women in Tech Incubator Programme

Standard Chartered, in partnership with Village Capital, has announced the 5th Cohort of the Futuremakers Women in Tech Accelerator (FWIT). This program supports women-owned or led tech-enabled businesses.

The Ashesi University’s Ghana Climate Innovation Centre (GCIC) will implement the program. It is funded by the Standard Chartered Foundation.

The Women in Tech Accelerator provides tools, training, and funding. It helps women-led businesses leverage technology for growth. The goal is to address Ghana's economic and environmental challenges.

Women drive 34% of formal SMEs and 44% of micro-enterprises in Ghana. However, they face barriers like limited access to finance (65%) and digital skills gaps (40%). Regulatory hurdles also affect 35% of women entrepreneurs.

The FWIT program aims to tackle these challenges directly. It fosters sustainable businesses with measurable social impact.

This year’s call highlights Standard Chartered’s commitment to empowering women entrepreneurs. Successful applicants will join a rigorous incubation program focused on business development and leadership.

The program will end with a pitch day. The top five finalists will each receive $10,000 in grants to scale their ventures.

The Chief Executive of Standard Chartered Ghana Plc commented on this year's program. He said it cultivates innovators who inspire others to recognize their potential for impact.

He added that this year's selection emphasizes inclusion. Preference will be given to women living with disabilities and those from underserved communities.

In previous cohorts, 74 women-led businesses completed the program. Of these, 21 received $210,000 in equity-free grants to grow their solutions.

These ventures cover various sectors such as agriculture, fashion, renewable energy, health, education, and sustainability. They showcase the diverse potential of women-led innovation.