هذه المقالة متاحة أيضًا بـ العربية (Arabic)
- Launch of the seventh edition of the “Women in Tech” program in the UAE by Standard Chartered, in partnership with C3 and Village Capital.
- Comprehensive support for participating women entrepreneurs, including funding of up to AED 550,000 in equity-free seed capital.
- The program is part of the global “Futuremakers” initiative, which aims to address the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs and has supported over 4,000 women across 17 markets worldwide to date.
Standard Chartered has announced the launch of the seventh edition of its “Women in Tech” program, aimed at promoting sustainable growth and empowering women entrepreneurs in the technology sector in the United Arab Emirates. The program focuses on fostering innovation, diversity, financial inclusion, and economic development.
This year’s edition is launched in collaboration with C3 – Companies Creating Change – and Village Capital.
The program is part of Standard Chartered’s global “Futuremakers” initiative, which seeks to tackle inequality and empower young people from underserved communities. This year, the program is specifically geared toward supporting women-led tech startups through tailored training, incentive-based funding, and access to world-class networks.
C3 will deliver the program locally, leveraging its proven expertise in supporting entrepreneurs and developing the startup ecosystem.
Through this initiative, selected startups will receive up to AED 550,000 (USD 150,000) in equity-free seed funding from Standard Chartered. Across all participating markets, more than AED 2.2 million (USD 600,000) will be distributed annually in incentive grants. Founders will also benefit from a customized curriculum, expert mentorship, and access to regional and global investors.
Rola Abu Manneh, CEO of Standard Chartered UAE, Middle East and Pakistan, said:
“The Women in Tech program, as part of our Futuremakers initiative, reflects our commitment to advancing economic inclusion and empowering female entrepreneurs to thrive. The launch of the seventh edition in the UAE highlights our ongoing support for the country’s entrepreneurial ecosystem by helping women-led startups gain access to the resources, networks, and funding they need to scale their impact. It also reinforces our broader commitment to women’s empowerment, diversity, equity, and inclusion in the communities we serve.”
As women entrepreneurs continue to face systemic barriers that hinder business scalability, this initiative is designed to help them overcome such challenges. Through the “Women in Tech” program, 400 women entrepreneurs across the region will benefit from investment support, grant funding, and mentoring opportunities to enable sustainable growth and long-term social impact.
Kevin Holliday, Managing Director of C3, added:
“We are proud to partner with Standard Chartered to deliver the ‘Women in Tech’ program under the Futuremakers initiative, and we are excited to welcome Village Capital this year. At C3, we focus on equipping women founders with the tools and relationships they need to grow. This initiative reflects the power of collaboration in creating real opportunities for women entrepreneurs across the UAE.”
Standard Chartered’s “Women in Tech” program, now accepting applications for the 2025 cohort, builds on a strong global track record, having supported over 4,000 women across 17 markets since its inception.
