The Standard Chartered Foundation has announced the distribution of 9 million Kenyan shillings, approximately $70,000, to seven women-led technology startups in Kenya. This initiative aims to bridge the funding gap for female founders in East Africa's largest startup market. Each recipient will receive 1.29 million shillings to finance product development and expansion. The foundation's effort supports the growth of women-led businesses in key sectors.
The seven winning startups were selected from 15 companies that completed the 12-week Women in Tech Kenya Accelerator program. This program, run in partnership with Village Capital and Strathmore University's iBizAfrica incubator, has supported 107 Kenyan startups and disbursed over 51.5 million shillings since its launch in 2017. The accelerator program provides a platform for women-led startups to access funding, skills, and networks.
The awardees focus on agriculture, health care, and education, sectors that have attracted significant investor interest in Kenya's tech ecosystem. Premac Care, one of the recipients, links families with trained health-care workers for maternal, newborn, and elderly care. Other recipients include ChipuRobo, which supplies locally made AI and robotics kits for education, and FishBox Africa, which offers AI-driven farm software and smart feeders for fish farmers.
The selection process for the grants involved evaluating applicants based on their business model, market opportunity, innovation, growth potential, and social or economic impact. Uptyke Consulting, another recipient, provides AI-powered digital learning tools for students with disabilities. Nakuru Tubers connects smallholder farmers to verified inputs and last-mile distribution, while Trident Analytics delivers IoT and AI solutions for small-scale aquaculture.
Seta Farm, the seventh recipient, grows mushrooms from organic waste, creating income for women and youth. The grants, although modest by venture-capital standards, address the scarcity of early-stage funding for women-led companies across Africa. The funding gap for female founders is a significant challenge in the continent's startup ecosystem.
Birju Sanghrajka, CEO of Standard Chartered Kenya, noted that the program goes beyond capital by providing skills, networks, and support needed for sustainable businesses. The partnership between Standard Chartered Foundation, Village Capital, and Strathmore University's iBizAfrica incubator has been instrumental in supporting women-led startups in Kenya.
The Women in Tech program operates globally across 14 Standard Chartered markets and has assisted over 4,000 entrepreneurs worldwide. Strathmore University Vice-Chancellor Vincent Ogutu highlighted that the partnership, which began as a three-way collaboration in Kenya, now spans 13 countries. The program's impact is expected to be felt beyond Kenya's borders.
Key points
- The Standard Chartered Foundation grants $70,000 to seven Kenyan women-led tech startups.
- The grants support product development in agriculture, health, and education sectors.
- The program aims to address the funding gap for female founders in East Africa's largest startup market.
