Standard Chartered awards Ksh.9M to seven women-led startups

Seven women-led startups have been awarded Ksh.9 million to scale their businesses under the ninth cohort of the Women in Tech Kenya Accelerator programme.

The funding, provided by the Standard Chartered Foundation in partnership with Village Capital and @iBizAfrica-Strathmore University, will see each of the seven startups receive Ksh.1.29 million.

The grants are intended to support product development, business growth and expansion of the startups' solutions.

The awards were announced during a ceremony in Nairobi on September 29, 2026, which also marked the graduation of 15 women founders who completed a 12-week accelerator programme.

The programme equips women-led, technology-enabled businesses with business development support, mentorship, investment-readiness training, networks and access to catalytic funding.

The 15 startups participating in the ninth cohort operate in areas including agriculture, healthcare, financial inclusion, education, renewable energy and accessibility.

The seven beneficiaries are Premac Care, ChipuRobo, FishBox Africa, Uptyke Consulting, Nakuru Tubers, Trident Analytics and Seta Farm.

Premac Care provides healthcare professionals for maternal and newborn care, elderly care and specialised nursing services, while ChipuRobo focuses on AI and robotics education using locally fabricated kits.

FishBox Africa develops AI-powered farm management software and smart feeders for fish farmers, while Uptyke Consulting provides digital learning tools for learners with disabilities.

Nakuru Tubers uses digital tools to connect smallholder farmers with agricultural inputs, while Trident Analytics applies IoT and AI to help aquaculture farmers monitor their farms and access markets.

Seta Farm uses organic waste to produce mushrooms while creating income opportunities for women and youth.

The startups were selected after a judging process that assessed their business models, market opportunities, innovation, growth potential and social or economic impact.

Since its launch in Kenya in 2017, the Women in Tech programme has supported 107 women-led startups and awarded more than Ksh.51.5 million in funding.

Globally, the accelerator is active in 14 Standard Chartered markets across Africa, the Middle East, Asia and the United States, having supported more than 4,000 entrepreneurs.

Speaking during the ceremony, Strathmore University Vice-Chancellor Dr Vincent Ogutu said the programme had grown from a partnership between the university, Standard Chartered and Village Capital in Kenya to an initiative operating across 13 countries.

“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,” said Dr. Ogutu.

Standard Chartered Kenya CEO and Head of Coverage Birju Sanghrajka said the programme seeks to provide women entrepreneurs with more than capital, including skills, networks and support to build sustainable businesses and create opportunities in their communities.

“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. 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,” he said.