KARACHI: Standard Chartered, in partnership with INNOVentures Global (Pvt.) Ltd., announces the launch of the 5th cohort of its Women in Tech (WiT) programme in Pakistan.

A flagship programme of future makers by Standard Chartered, the bank’s global initiative to tackle inequality and promote economic inclusion, WiT is designed to help address gender disparity in entrepreneurship.

Through this programme, the Bank supports female-led enterprises via capacity building through business management training and mentoring, provided by its award-winning accelerator programme.

In Pakistan, this initiative was launched in 2019, has appealed to over 1200 female-led enterprises, with 88 female founders participating in the bank’s accelerator programme. Once graduating from the accelerator programme and on final pitches, 26 of these enterprises have also received seed funding.

Commenting on this occasion Rehan Shaikh, Chief Executive Officer, Standard Chartered Pakistan said, “There is an increased focus on the role banks play in supporting the growth of small businesses, and furthering financial inclusion and education. In line with the Government agenda, WiT is Standard Chartered’s effort in supporting female-led enterprises upscale through technology.

This initiative further builds Standard Chartered’s focus on increasing women’s access to entrepreneurial finance and supporting adolescent girls and women through capacity building, encapsulating our future makers community strategy of enabling the next generation to learn, earn and grow.”

Copyright Business Recorder, 2023