This archive report was first published on 12 June 2020.
On June 12, 2020, Standard Chartered Bank Kenya announced the winners of its Women in Tech program, a tech incubation program launched in 2017 in partnership with iLab Africa – a division of Strathmore University.
The program aims to support and nurture entrepreneurship, technology, and business growth for women in Kenya.
Five women-led startups received KSh 1 million in seed funding: Bena Care, Arbres Biotech, Nature's Touch, Soul Food enterprises, and Taste Afrique.
The winners were selected from a group of 180 companies that competed for the top prize.
Standard Chartered Bank Kenya Chief Executive Officer Kariuki Ngari congratulated the winners, stating that the 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,” Mr. Ngari said.
Each year, the Women in Tech program trains more than 10 small and medium businesses leveraging on technology by offering mentorship, advisory, coaching, networking opportunities, access to seed capital, and investor forums.
Dr. Joseph Sevilla, Director of iBizAfrica Center-Strathmore University, said the program had shown tremendous increase of women businesses with great potential to drive the Kenyan economy to greater heights over the years.
