Standard Chartered Foundation, Village Capital, Enterprise Development Centre open applications for this year’s Women in Tech Accelerator in Nigeria

…Seventh cohort of the three-year programme will be empowered to scale their solutions, create jobs and continue their positive impact

Standard Chartered Foundation (the Foundation), together with Village Capital and Enterprise Development Centre, Pan-Atlantic University announced it is accepting applications for the 2026 Women in Tech Accelerator for Nigeria.

Now in its seventh cohort, the 2026 Women in Tech Accelerator will build on last year’s success, empowering women-led, tech-enabled startups to scale and create positive impact in their communities.

In many fast-growing emerging economies, women are launching innovative, tech-enabled businesses that respond to community and market needs. Yet many early-stage entrepreneurs face ecosystems designed for rapid scale rather than sustainable enterprise building, limiting their ability to develop resilient business models, create quality jobs, and deliver long-term impact.

The Women in Tech Accelerator prorgamme is designed to address that growth gap by providing catalytic grant funding, structured business training, and tailored mentorship to equip entrepreneurs with the tools, networks, and confidence needed to build resilient, revenue-generating enterprises that create jobs and deliver lasting economic and social impact.

In the programme’s previous year, empowered by the training and support they received, this cohort created a positive impact in their businesses and communities. The 2025 cohort across various markets collectively:

• Added nearly 16,000 new customers
• Generated more than 430 jobs
• Increased their revenues by USD2.7 million

A new year of impact

More than USD600,000 in grant funding for entrepreneurs in the 2026 cohort will be distributed across 12 markets: Bahrain, Botswana, Egypt, Ghana, Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia*, South Africa*, UAE, Uganda, and Zambia.

Joke Adu, Country Head of Corporate Affairs, Brand and Marketing at Standard Chartered in Nigeria said:  ‘‘Research consistently demonstrates that systemic barriers including inequitable access to capital and networks continue to constrain the growth of women-led enterprises. Addressing these barriers is not only a social imperative but a proven economic catalyst. In continued partnership with Village Capital and the Enterprise Development Centre, Pan-Atlantic University; the Standard Chartered Foundation Women in Tech Accelerator remains at the forefront of driving measurable, scalable change toward gender-inclusive economic participation. Since its Nigeria launch in 2019, the programme has deployed over USD 1 million in training, business advisory services, and grant funding, directly enabling high-potential women entrepreneurs to build and scale transformative businesses. Building on the success of the 2025 cohort, we are confident the 2026 cohort will generate significant and lasting value not only for their enterprises, but for the communities they serve.’’

Yazmin Jumaali, Senior Program Manager at Village Capital said: “In 2025, 71 women-led startups in the programme grew their businesses and collectively generated over USD 2 million in additional revenue. This demonstrates that when founders have access to structured, locally embedded support and catalytic funding, they can strengthen their strategies, engage investors confidently, and unlock sustainable impact. In 2026, we’re continuing to create the conditions for even more women-led startups to thrive and positively impact their communities.”

Dr. Nneka Okekearu, Director, Enterprise Development Centre, Pan-Atlantic University said: ” The 2025 cohorts deliver undeniable proof: nearly 16,000 new customers, over 430 jobs created, and USD 2.7 million in additional revenue. This is the power of equipping women-led businesses with the right tools, capital, and support.

At EDC, we’ve always known women don’t just participate in Nigeria’s tech ecosystem-they lead it. The Women in Tech Accelerator continues to demonstrate this.

As we open applications for Cohort 7, we remain committed to empowering the next generation of women founders driving innovation and lasting impact across Nigeria and beyond.”

Commenting on her 2025 involvement, Women in Tech alumna, Chinwendu Augustina Nweke, Founder & CEO, Bridge Merchant, based in Nigeria, said: “The Women in Tech Accelerator transformed the future of our business – far beyond my hopes and expectations. While the funding was important in enabling us to scale, it is the wrap-around support that has given my team and myself the confidence we needed to thrive.”

Women-startup founders from the Nigeria are invited to apply now, with applications closing on April 26, 2026. Successful applicants will participate in the Accelerator between June 2026 and August 2026 this year.

Full details and availability criteria for application can be found here: https://reg.smetoolkit.africa/witi7

Funding for Women in Tech Accelerator in Saudi Arabia and South Africa is provided by local Standard Chartered Bank and not the Standard Chartered Foundation.