This archive report was first published on 12 June 2020.
Standard Chartered Bank Kenya has awarded Ksh 1 million in seed funding to five women-led tech businesses, marking the successful completion of the third cohort of a tech incubation program launched in 2017.
The program, which is part of the Bank's community engagement strategy, Futuremakers by Standard Chartered, aims to tackle the issue of inequality and promote greater economic inclusion for young people in various communities and economies, with a focus on girls and women.
The five winners, Bena Care, Arbres Biotech, Nature's Touch, Soul Food Enterprises, and Taste Afrique, were selected from a group of 180 companies that competed for the top prize.
According to Standard Chartered Bank Kenya Chief Executive Officer Kariuki Ngari, the Women in Tech program aspires to support and nurture entrepreneurship, technology, and business growth for women.
“Often, people ask why the focus on women and girls. The reality is that in Kenya and globally, women and girls fall behind in many aspects of development and equality,” said Mr Ngari.
“This is why there still needs to be continued focus on supporting this half of our population. As a bank, we want to do our part in empowering women and girls,” he added.
Published on June 12, 2020, the program has shown tremendous increase of women businesses with great potential to drive the Kenyan economy to greater heights over the years.
