You’ve built your startup. Now it’s time to scale. Applications close April 24, 2026.
The Standard Chartered Foundation, in partnership with Village Capital and INNOVentures Global, is now accepting applications for the Women in Tech Accelerator Pakistan 2026.
This programme isn’t for ideas on napkins. It’s for women founders who already have traction—revenue, users, or pilots—and are ready to grow sustainably.
Since 2019, the accelerator has supported over 170 women-led startups across more than 20 sectors in Pakistan. Those ventures have gone on to generate over PKR 9 billion in revenue.
Now, Cohort 8 is open. And the deadline is fast approaching: April 24, 2026.
Why Women in Tech? The Economic Case
Across emerging markets, women entrepreneurs are building resilient, innovative businesses that respond to real-world needs. But they often face a funding gap.
When given the right tools—training, networks, mentorship, and catalytic funding—these businesses don’t just grow. They create jobs, unlock markets, and drive long-term economic impact.
“The Women in Tech Accelerator exists to enable that growth journey,” the foundation states. “Helping founders strengthen their strategies, build sustainable businesses, and scale with confidence.”
Globally, the programme aims to:
- Support 400 women entrepreneurs across 12 countries over three years
- Distribute over USD 1.9 million in catalytic grants
- Enable and support 1,200+ jobs across participating markets
Who Should Apply?
The accelerator is looking for women founders building startups that are ready to scale.
Your startup must:
- Be women-led, with a Pakistani woman in a key ownership or leadership role
- Be a registered entity (Private Limited, Non-profit, or Sole Proprietorship)
- Have been operating for at least 6 months and up to 5 years
- Be in early stage (under USD 100,000 revenue and USD 500,000 funding)
- Be tech-first or tech-enabled
- Show early traction (revenue, users, or pilots)
- Have a clear plan to scale using catalytic capital
Founder age: Typically between 18–35 years, in line with programme criteria.
Note: This is not for pre-launch ideas. You need a business already in motion.
Apply here:
https://www.sc.com/pk/campaign/women-in-tech/apply/
For queries:
Email tasneem.mirza@sc.com
Note: In case of any error while submitting the form, kindly write an email to the same address.
Why This Matters: A Track Record of Impact
Since launching in Pakistan in 2019, the Women in Tech Accelerator has:
- Supported 170+ women-led startups across 20+ sectors
- Helped portfolio companies generate over PKR 9 billion in revenue
- Delivered strong returns on catalytic capital, with portfolio companies unlocking follow-on funding
- Built a pipeline of investment-ready, scale-focused businesses
This isn’t a feel-good initiative. It’s a proven engine for economic growth.
Quick Summary for Busy Founders
- What: Women in Tech Accelerator Pakistan (Cohort 8, 2026)
- Who: Women founders (18-35) with registered, tech-enabled startups showing early traction
- Stage: Early-stage (under USD 100K revenue, under USD 500K funding), operating 6 months to 5 years
- Benefits: Seed grants (10 ventures), scale-up grants up to PKR 5M (top 3), mentorship, global network
- Deadline: April 24, 2026
- Apply: SC.com/pk/campaign/women-in-tech/apply/
- Questions: tasneem.mirza@sc.com
