At the launch event for Cohort 8 of the Women in Tech programmme, a collaboration between Standard Chartered Bank and iBizAfrica at Strathmore University, there was no shortage of inspiration. Held earlier today at Standard Chartered’s head office in Nairobi, the event brought together founders, mentors, and partners with a shared goal: empowering women-led startups that are using technology to create real, measurable impact.
Dr. Joseph Sevilla, Director at iLabAfrica and iBizAfrica, reflected on the journey so far. He recalled how the idea of the incubator emerged from a simple, pressing need to give young innovators, often overlooked due to their age or inexperience, a fighting chance in the market.
“We saw brilliant ideas coming from young people, but when they went to pitch, they’d be dismissed. That’s how the incubator came to be,” he said.
Over the last seven years, the programme has trained 80 startups selected from hundreds of applicants. These startups undergo three months of intensive training, mentorship, and masterclasses covering everything from marketing and team building to intellectual property and funding readiness. Of those trained, 39 have received a total of nearly $400,000 in seed funding.
Dr. Sevilla also shared success stories that have grown from early-stage ideas into scalable ventures, such as Bena Care, a home-based healthcare startup from Cohort 4, which now serves over 500 patients monthly with the help of 9,000 healthcare workers, and has secured $1.2 million in funding.
“Even those who don’t get funding benefit immensely from the training. We’ve seen many go on to succeed. What matters is long-term impact,” he added.
Ludovica Ochieng, Manager at iBizAfrica, offered a snapshot of what this new cohort will focus on. This year, the programme is looking for early-stage, legally registered, tech-enabled businesses in Kenya led by women aged 18 to 35, with proven traction, specifically startups earning between Ksh 500,000 and 1 million annually.
“We’re not focusing on ideation anymore,” she said. “We want startups already showing traction, with a clear impact mission, social, economic, or environmental, in line with the SDGs.”
Top-performing startups in the programme will receive $10,000 in seed funding, with all 15 participants gaining access to personalized mentorship, masterclasses from industry leaders, and entry into the growing Women in Tech alumni network.
Standard Chartered Kenya’s newest board member, Beverly Obatoyinbo, also addressed the audience. Just eight weeks into her role, she said she was deeply moved by the founders and their ideas.
“Some of the things you’re building are amazing, I’ll definitely be on your apps soon,” she quipped, before affirming the bank’s commitment to supporting transformative female-led businesses.
With today’s launch of Cohort 8, the Women in Tech programme continues its mission to support bold, innovative women shaping Kenya’s startup ecosystem and beyond.
Also Read: Standard Chartered Kenya’s CEO on Supporting Startups and Empowering Women in Tech
