StanChart Ghana awards GH₵936,000 to six women-led businesses
Standard Chartered Bank Ghana PLC has awarded a total of GH₵936,000 in grants to six exceptional women-led businesses at the graduation ceremony of the Cohort 4 Standard Chartered Women in Tech (SCWIT) Incubator programme.
The event, held in Accra, celebrated the achievements of these women entrepreneurs following their successful completion of a six-month intensive incubation program. Each of the six winning businesses was granted GH₵156,000 to drive their operations and promote innovation in their respective sectors.
Launched in 2020, the Standard Chartered Women in Tech Incubator is implemented in partnership with Ashesi University’s Ghana Climate Innovation Centre. Since its inception, the programme has supported 74 businesses, with 21 participants receiving seed funding. The initiative goes beyond incubation, aiming to create opportunities for women to build entrepreneurial and leadership skills, break down barriers, and leverage technology to solve social challenges.
At the graduation ceremony, Mansa Nettey, Chief Executive of Standard Chartered Bank Ghana PLC, commended the winners for their exceptional achievements. “We are incredibly proud of the progress and accomplishments of these innovative young women entrepreneurs. From agriculture and health to education, they are incorporating technology into their businesses and solving complex societal problems, thereby increasing the participation of women,” she remarked.
Ruka Sanusi, Executive Director of the Ghana Climate Innovation Centre, echoed these sentiments, highlighting the diversity of the solutions developed by the women-led businesses. “These female business owners stand out for their deep understanding of consumer needs and their ability to create tailored solutions across various industries. Their creativity and foresight demonstrate the value women bring to the business world,” Sanusi said.
The six winning companies—Zuputo, Poka Technology Ltd, Even Sparrows Farms, Drdogood, AppCyclers, and FreshLine Post Harvest Solutions—showcased remarkable potential by integrating technology into their operations and demonstrating their competitiveness in their respective industries. These businesses are expected to significantly impact Ghana’s economic development through innovation, with the grants enabling them to expand operations, improve product offerings, and create new employment opportunities.
In addition to the seed funding, the businesses will receive portfolio management support over the next 10 weeks, alongside exposure to potential investors eager to back women-led enterprises. All 20 graduates from the Cohort 4 programme will also join the global SCWIT alumni network, granting them access to further networking events, resources, and business scaling opportunities. The success of the Cohort 4 graduates underscores the crucial role of the Standard Chartered Women in Tech Incubator in addressing the gender gap in technology adoption and use. Through mentorship, resources, and financial support, the programme continues to empower women entrepreneurs, fostering innovation and inclusivity within Ghana’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
