Standard Chartered Pakistan’s Women in Tech Accelerator has received a Silver award at Effie Awards Pakistan 2026 in the Social Good category, recognising the programme’s work in supporting women-led technology ventures and early-stage founders in Pakistan’s startup ecosystem. The campaign behind the accelerator was led by Adcom Pvt Ltd, which developed and delivered the communications strategy around the initiative.
The Women in Tech Accelerator, backed by Standard Chartered Foundation and Standard Chartered Pakistan, has focused on supporting women entrepreneurs by providing access to mentorship, business development guidance, and startup support. The programme has become part of broader efforts to increase women’s participation in Pakistan’s technology and entrepreneurial sectors, where access to resources and investment opportunities remains uneven.
In a public statement, Nida Athar said the recognition reflected the work of women founders involved in the programme, describing it as a celebration of the entrepreneurs “building, testing, figuring things out, and pushing through every single day.” INNOventures Global, which designed and runs the accelerator model, was also acknowledged for its role in executing the programme alongside Standard Chartered and Adcom Leo Burnett.
The award highlights increasing attention on startup programmes focused on inclusion and community-led growth within Pakistan’s technology ecosystem. Initiatives such as Women in Tech Accelerator have become an important channel for early-stage women founders seeking structured support, while recognition at platforms like Effie Awards Pakistan reflects the growing visibility of social impact-driven startup programmes in the country.
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