Karachi: Standard Chartered, in collaboration with Village Capital and InnoVentures Global, has announced the commencement of the eighth cohort of the Women in Tech Pakistan Accelerator. This initiative aims to empower women-led, tech-enabled businesses in the country. According to Standard Chartered Bank, the program has supported over 1,300 enterprises since its inception, with more than 150 women founders graduating and over 50 ventures obtaining seed funding.
The 2026 cohort is designed to provide founders with investment readiness training, catalytic funding, and access to global networks to bolster their business growth. In Pakistan, the accelerator will be implemented by InnoVentures Global, utilizing its expertise in supporting entrepreneurs and developing ecosystems. Rehan Shaikh, Chief Executive Officer and Head of Coverage, Pakistan at Standard Chartered, emphasized the program's role in empowering women entrepreneurs and addressing challenges such as access to funding and networks. The initiative seeks to enhance the business landscape by equipping women founders with essential tools and support to scale their ventures sustainably.
Nakami Walunywa, Regional Director for Africa and the Middle East at Village Capital, highlighted the program's past successes, noting that in 2025, 71 women-led startups in the initiative generated over USD 2 million in additional revenue. The accelerator continues to tackle the barriers women entrepreneurs face, aiming to support 400 women founders across the region in developing their businesses.
Nida Athar, Founder of InnoVentures Global Private Limited, reiterated the long-term commitment to supporting women entrepreneurs in Pakistan, acknowledging their resilience and contribution to the economy. Applications for the 2026 cohort are open until May 1, with the program running from June to October. The accelerator builds on a global foundation, having supported over 4,000 women across 17 markets, and has allocated more than USD 600,000 in grant funding for the current year across 12 markets.
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