Standard Chartered Bank (SCBPL) and INNOVentures Global (Private) Limited have revealed the winners of #SCWomenInTech Cohort 5, 2023, in their ongoing efforts to champion gender representation in technology-based entrepreneurship, with a specific focus on advancing financial inclusion.
Launched in Pakistan in 2019, the WomenInTech program selected a cohort of 25 startups from a pool of over 1700 applications received from more than 100 cities and towns during the 2023 selection phase. These startups, representing diverse business verticals, underwent a comprehensive 2.5-month capacity-building program and were eligible for seed grants.
The WomenInTech initiative, which has already awarded approximately Rs. 30 million as grant money between 2019 and 2022, has seen undisclosed investments raised and successful acquisition exits for more than two startups.
Rehan Shaikh, CEO of Standard Chartered Bank Pakistan, congratulated the dynamic entrepreneurs selected for this year’s program, emphasizing the bank’s commitment to fostering an inclusive and diverse tech ecosystem. He highlighted the bank’s contribution to empowering entrepreneurs and promoting financial inclusion and sustainable growth on a global scale.
The program’s diverse portfolio of entrepreneurs and founders this year includes innovators in Fem-Tech, Health-Tech, Hygiene products, Fin-Tech, Air-Quality, Agri-Tech, Ed-Tech, aligning with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.
The winning startups of Cohort 5 include RENT-IT, disrupting Pakistan’s digital fashion space; Khair, Pakistan’s first Period & Pregnancy Tracker; EcoBricks, a pioneer in eco-friendly construction materials; Chiragh Education Technologies, a gamified & video-based learning platform; Aesthetics Lab powered by Tibbi, an innovative health tech startup; DigiDeaf, providing solutions for the educational development and inclusion of the Deaf Community; and Irverde-Gogreen, a tech-enabled waste management company promoting a zero-waste vision.
