By Rafiq Vayani
KARACHI: Standard Chartered Foundation, in partnership with INNOVentures Global and Village Capital, has concluded the eighth cohort of the Women in Tech Accelerator for Pakistan, awarding three women-led start-ups equity-free grant funding totalling PKR 10.5 million at the graduation ceremony in Karachi. The winners will also receive an additional six months of hand-holding and financial oversight and a lifelong membership to the Women in Tech Alumni Network.
The Accelerator started with 30 Founders undergoing an intense 6-day bootcamp, followed by 10 women entrepreneurs supported through 3-months of tailored investment-readiness support, expert mentorship and opportunities to strengthen their business models, competitive advantage, scalability and funding strategies and a two-stage funding intervention, along with two-stage funding for high-potential startups from the cohort.
The first prize of PKR 5 Million was awarded to EV Square founded by Aimen Shafique; the second prize of PKR 3 Million went to Blusha App founded by Minahil Zafar; and the third prize of PKR 2.5 Million was awarded to Zvolta, founded by Anusha Shahid.
Adil Salahuddin, CEO & Head of Coverage, Standard Chartered Pakistan, said: “Congratulations to the remarkable founders of the Women in Tech Accelerator for Pakistan Cohort 8 on reaching this important milestone. Over the past several months, you have demonstrated tremendous commitment to building solutions that create meaningful impact. Through access to mentorship, business advisory support, industry connections, and capacity-building opportunities, the Women in Tech Accelerator has been designed to help entrepreneurs strengthen their business models and accelerate their growth journey. We are proud to have supported these founders as they scale their ventures, create employment opportunities, and contribute to Pakistan’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. On behalf of Standard Chartered Pakistan, I wish each founder continued success as they take their businesses to the next level.”
British Deputy High Commissioner in Karachi, Alison Blackburne, said: “Pakistan’s women entrepreneurs are turning bold ideas into businesses that create jobs and improve lives. The UK is proud to support their ambition and talent. I congratulate this year’s winners and commend the Standard Chartered Foundation and its partners for giving women the funding, skills and networks they need to grow their businesses and shape Pakistan’s future.”
Founders presented their ventures to a judging panel comprising: Ghias Khan, Independent Non-Executive Director and Member of the Board of Directors, Standard Chartered Pakistan, Saad Amanullah, Board Member FFC and President PILAP, Musharaf Hai, Former CEO Unilever Pakistan and Sara Khurram, CEO Sehat Kahani.
The Women in Tech accelerator supports women entrepreneurs building innovative, technology-enabled businesses that address market and community needs. Participants receive tailored investment-readiness support, catalytic grant funding and expert mentorship to help them scale sustainably, create jobs and deliver lasting impact.
The Pakistan Accelerator is part of Standard Chartered Foundation’s global Women in Tech initiative. Since its launch, the programme has supported more than 200 women-led start-ups in Pakistan through mentorship and awarded over USD 425,000 in grant funding.