Standard Chartered’s Women in Tech Kenya backs female founders with funding and training to close Africa’s $42B gender gap and fuel inclusive innovation.
On a warm Tuesday in Nairobi’s Upper Hill, the bright, startup-charged halls of Strathmore University’s @iBizAfrica incubator buzz with quiet determination.
At one desk, a founder refines a pitch for a last-mile logistics platform. Nearby, co-founders sketch out a digital savings app for informal traders. They’re all women. All building early-stage tech ventures—and all part of Standard Chartered Bank Kenya’s Women in Tech (WiT) Accelerator.
Launched in 2017, WiT was born from a bold idea: What if global finance viewed African women not as risky bets—but as architects of the continent’s tech future?
“We’ve trained 77 startups, funded 32, and seen transformations we never imagined,”
— Joyce Kibe, Head of Corporate Affairs, Brand & Marketing at Standard Chartered Kenya
Delivered in partnership with @iBizAfrica and Village Capital, the accelerator equips each cohort with:
- KES 1.25 million (~$9,500) in seed funding
- 12 weeks of intensive training in business development
- Access to top investors, mentors, and corporate partners
The stakes are massive. Africa faces a $42 billion gender funding gap, according to the African Development Bank. And while women own more than 30% of SMEs, they receive less than 5% of venture capital on the continent.
Programs like WiT are not just bridging that gap—they’re rewriting the script.
“I applied because I was tired of building in the shadows,” says
Rebecca Kageha, 2021 alumna and founder of Moma Renewable Energy
Her startup transforms waste into clean cooking fuel, offering affordable energy and healthier lives to underserved communities.
“We’re investing in women because they solve problems no one else sees,”
— Joyce Kibe
WiT alumni are breaking ground in sectors critical to Africa’s future:
- Green energy: Affordable, sustainable fuel alternatives
- Agri-tech: Tools to help small-scale farmers access markets
- Health tech: Affordable diagnostics and community wellness platforms
- Fintech: Inclusive savings, credit, and insurance models
These businesses are not only growing revenues—they’re driving job creation, climate action, and digital transformation across East Africa.
As the program continues to expand, WiT Kenya offers a template for inclusive innovation ecosystems across the continent. With each new cohort, more women step out of the shadows—and into boardrooms, labs, and pitch stages.
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