Standard Chartered Bank has launched the Women in Tech Access to Capital initiative. It is aimed at increasing women’s participation in business. The initiative will enable women entrepreneurs access startup financing and help grow their businesses.
As part of the Bank’s Futuremakers initiative, Standard Chartered Bank will initially provide Ksh. 5 million revolving funds that will enable Women in Tech (WiT) alumni access interest free and collateral free loans. The loans will be capped at Ksh. 100,000 for working capital and Ksh. 200,000 for capital expenditure with a 12-24 month repayment period.
Commenting during the announcement, Kariuki Ngari Chief Executive Officer, Standard Chartered Bank, said, “Through our Women in Tech incubation program, now in its fourth cohort, we learnt that the biggest impediment of most women-led businesses was access to financial products and services. Growing a business from its inception is critical especially for women in enabling poverty alleviation and helping build better livelihoods for their families and the society at large. By making it easier for women to access financial aid, we are giving them opportunities for them to succeed.”
Additionally, the bank has lined-up training and engagement sessions with the WiTs to drive banking behaviour and further understand the needs from the entrepreneurs as their businesses grow and develop.
“As a bank, we are alive to the fact that women economic empowerment is fundamental in helping achieve gender equality and sustainable development for the country,” Mr Kariuki concluded.
Dr. Joseph Sevilla, Director @iLabAfrica Research and Innovation Centre, Strathmore University said, “@iLabAfrica Centre is delighted to see startups that have passed through the Women in Tech Program experience business income growth of over 1100% in a period of over 2 years. These success stories show the progress of the program in the last four years and we look forward to growing more successful enterprises that have a global impact.”
Out of the top five companies from the WiT incubation program in 2020, Bena Care which provides home nursing services to people with life-limiting illnesses across the country experienced a 1224% increase in revenue. The company ended up doubling its staff numbers since starting the incubation program. Additionally, the company also raised Ksh. 6.5 million as follow up funding in January 2021 from an international body for their placement platform in Ehealth funding.
Women in Tech program is part of the Bank’s community engagement strategy, Futuremakers by Standard Chartered, that aims at tackling the issue of inequality and promoting greater economic inclusion for young people in various communities. The program is partnership with @iLabAfrica, Strathmore University Incubation Centre.
Each year the program trains more than 10 small and medium businesses leveraging on technology by offering mentorship, advisory, coaching, networking opportunities, access to seed capital and investor forums. 30 start-ups have participated to date, and 15 have been awarded one million each in seed funding. 41 businesses have so far gone through the incubation process with the first 4 cohorts attracting 1,150 applications.