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Standard Chartered, in partnership with Village Capital and InnoVentures Global, announced today the launch of the eighth cohort of the Women in Tech Pakistan Accelerator, marking eight years of empowering women-led, tech-enabled businesses across the country.
Since its launch in Pakistan, the programme has supported more than 1,300 enterprises, with over 150 women founders graduating and more than 50 ventures securing seed funding.
The 2026 cohort will equip founders with investment readiness training, catalytic funding, and access to world-class networks, helping them strengthen their businesses and position for growth. In Pakistan, the accelerator will be delivered by InnoVentures Global, leveraging its proven expertise in entrepreneur support and ecosystem development.
Rehan Shaikh, Chief Executive Officer & Head of Coverage, Pakistan, Standard Chartered, said: “Our eighth cohort underscores our consistent commitment to empowering women entrepreneurs in Pakistan and reflects the steady growth of the ecosystem over time. While access to funding and networks remains a challenge, expanding opportunities for women-led businesses is essential to building a stronger entrepreneurial landscape.”
He added: “Our focus is to equip founders with the tools, capital access, and structured support they need to scale sustainably. By strengthening the pipeline of women-led businesses, we aim to foster innovation, create jobs, and drive meaningful economic impact.”
Nakami Walunywa, Regional Director, Africa and Middle East at Village Capital said: “In 2025, 71 women-led startups in the programme grew their businesses and collectively generated over USD 2 million in additional revenue. This demonstrates that when founders have access to structured, locally embedded support and catalytic funding, they can strengthen their strategies, engage investors confidently, and unlock sustainable impact. In 2026, we’re continuing to create the conditions for even more women-led startups to thrive and positively impact their communities.”
The three-year initiative continues to address key barriers facing women entrepreneurs, particularly in accessing finance, networks, and business development resources. Through the accelerator, 400 women founders across the region are expected to benefit from structured support to help them develop and grow their ventures.
Nida Athar, Founder of InnoVentures Global Private Limited, said: “Our continued work through the Women in Tech Accelerator reflects a long-term commitment to supporting women entrepreneurs across Pakistan. In a time of ongoing uncertainty, these founders are not only demonstrating resilience but are building credible, growth-oriented businesses that contribute meaningfully to the economy. Their journeys are helping shape a pipeline of strong role models for future generations of women in entrepreneurship. As we begin the next cycle, we look forward to continuing this work and supporting a new wave of women entrepreneurs stepping forward to build.”
Applications for the Pakistan cohort are open until 1 May 2026, with selected participants joining the programme between June and October.
The Standard Chartered Women in Tech Accelerator builds on the successful global track record, which has supported over 4,000 women across 17 markets since inception. This year, the program has allocated more than USD 600,000 in grant funding to entrepreneurs across 12 markets, including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, South Africa, and Nigeria.
