Standard Chartered and C3 – Companies Creating Change have announced the launch of the latest cohort of the Women in Tech accelerator. Operating as part of a global Women in Tech initiative spanning nine countries, the programme aims to foster sustainable growth and empower women entrepreneurs within the UAE’s technology sector.
For the sixth edition of the accelerator, Standard Chartered has partnered with C3, a regional impact solutions provider that is part of the Global Ventures platform, an international venture capital firm that invests in founders and ideas scaling across emerging markets. C3 will provide tailored support to women founders, it was shared.
Rola Abu Manneh, Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered in the UAE, Middle East, and Pakistan, commented: “We are delighted to launch the sixth edition of this signature accelerator program in the UAE. This programme is a testament to our shared commitment with the UAE to champion women empowerment and support technological innovation.”
Adding: “Through this dynamic initiative, which offers targeted support, mentorship and access to seed capital, we aim to empower women, enabling them to overcome barriers, seize opportunities and drive transformative change. By nurturing and equipping women with the necessary tools and resources, we are not only fostering diversity and inclusion but also fostering an environment full of innovation and progress.”
Medea Nocentini, C3 Founder and Senior Partner at Global Ventures said: “We are thrilled to partner with Standard Chartered for the upcoming Women in Technology programme. Leveraging C3’s extensive experience in the impact entrepreneurship sector, we will empower women founders and facilitate their business journey to the next level of success. Through our expansive network of trainers, experts and investors, we aim to provide unparalleled access to knowledge, networks and capital for women-led startups, ensuring their sustainable growth and lasting impact in the technology sector.”
The programme will see ten startups undergo a detailed selection process involving various entrepreneurship and investment stakeholders.
The founders will undergo a tailored journey covering various topics, including business acceleration, investor readiness, impact assessment and acceleration, and diversity and inclusion.
The accelerator will prepare the participants for the Demo Day set to take place in October 2024, which will see female-led founding teams pitch their businesses to a network of investors and industry experts.
A panel of judges will select three businesses to receive 550,000 AED (USD 150,000) in equity-free seed capital.