Standard Chartered Awards Ksh9 Million to Seven Women-Led Startups as 15 Entrepreneurs Graduate
Share
Seven women-led startups have received a total of Ksh9 million in grant funding through the Women in Tech Kenya Accelerator programme.
The funding was awarded by the Standard Chartered Foundation in partnership with Village Capital and @iBizAfrica- Strathmore University to support the startups in product development, business growth and expansion.
Each of the seven startups will receive about Ksh1.29 million. The winners were announced on Tuesday, September 29, 2026, during the Women in Tech Kenya Cohort 9 Awards and Graduation Ceremony held at Standard Chartered in Nairobi.
Standard Chartered Graduates 15 Women Entrepreneurs
The ceremony also marked the graduation of 15 women founders who completed a 12-week accelerator programme delivered by the Standard Chartered Foundation in partnership with Village Capital and @iBizAfrica.
The programme supports women-led, technology-enabled businesses through business development support, mentorship, investment-readiness training, networking opportunities and access to catalytic funding.
The ninth cohort brought together startups operating in sectors including agriculture, healthcare, financial inclusion, education, renewable energy and accessibility.
Speaking at the ceremony, Strathmore University Vice-Chancellor Dr Vincent Ogutu said partnerships had played a key role in the programme’s growth.
“Partnership has been central to the success of this programme. What began in Kenya as a collaboration between Strathmore University, Standard Chartered and Village Capital has now expanded to 13 countries.”
Ogutu said the programme aims to help entrepreneurs identify real problems, develop solutions and create a wider impact.
“Our goal is to support entrepreneurs to identify real problems, develop exceptional solutions and become excellent at what they do. When they succeed, we put them on a pedestal to inspire the next generation of women entrepreneurs to dream bigger and create even greater impact.”
Also Read:ITC, Access Bank Launch SME Growth Partnership Covering Kenya and 13 Other African Countries
The Seven Winning Startups
The seven startups that received the grants are:
- Premac Care -A health-tech startup that connects families with trained healthcare professionals for maternal and newborn care, post-hospitalisation recovery, elderly care and specialised nursing needs.
- ChipurOBo- An edtech startup providing inclusive, hands-on artificial intelligence and robotics education using locally fabricated kits.
- FishBox Africa – An aquaculture technology company providing AI-powered farm management software and smart feeders to help fish farmers improve yields, reduce feed waste and lower production costs.
- Uptyke Consulting – An edtech startup providing accessible, AI-powered digital learning for learners with disabilities through sign language, audio and interactive content.
- Nakuru Tubers- An agritech company connecting smallholder farmers to verified agricultural inputs through digital tools, demand matching and last-mile distribution.
- Trident Analytics- An aquaculture startup using Internet of Things technology, artificial intelligence and digital tools to help smallholder aquaculture farmers monitor farms, automate operations and access markets.
- Seta Farm- A circular agribusiness that uses organic waste to produce mushrooms while creating income opportunities for women and young people through a decentralised production network.
The startups were selected through a competitive judging process that assessed their business models, market opportunities, innovation, growth potential and social or economic impact.
Also Read:How a Banker Lured His Ex-Lover to a Secluded Spot Before Stabbing Her 3 Times
Programme Highlights Impact of Women in Tech
Birju Sanghrajka, Chief Executive Officer and Head of Coverage at Standard Chartered Kenya, said the programme had helped the entrepreneurs strengthen their businesses over the 12-week period.
“We are proud to celebrate 15 entrepreneurs who have strengthened their businesses over the past 12 weeks. The seven receiving funding are tackling different challenges, united by an ambition to grow and create impact.”
Sanghrajka said the Women in Tech programme provides women entrepreneurs with skills, networks and support to build sustainable businesses.
“Women in Tech goes beyond capital by providing the skills, networks and support women entrepreneurs need to build sustainable businesses, create opportunities and strengthen their communities.”
Since its launch in Kenya in 2017, the Women in Tech programme has supported 107 women-led startups and provided more than Ksh51.5 million in funding, alongside business development support, mentorship and access to networks.
Globally, the Women in Tech Accelerator operates in 14 Standard Chartered markets across Africa, the Middle East, Asia and the United States and has supported more than 4,000 entrepreneurs.
Follow our WhatsApp channel for more updates
Photo of Standard Chartered Bank
PHOTO/File
