KARACHI – Standard Chartered Pakistan has announced the winners of Cohort 7 of its Women in Tech Accelerator Program, funded by the Standard Chartered Foundation and delivered in collaboration with Village Capital and INNOVentures Global. The announcement followed a graduation ceremony held at the Pearl Continental Hotel, Karachi.
Out of 30 participating startups, 10 exceptional ventures were selected after a five-day acceleration bootcamp, each receiving PKR 1 million in seed funding to validate their scaling plans. The startups span diverse sectors including women empowerment, mental health, edtech, health and wellness, climate innovation, and circular fashion.
Rehan Shaikh, CEO & Head of Coverage at Standard Chartered Pakistan, emphasized the program’s impact:
“Each of our founders has worked immensely hard to validate, strengthen, and scale their business ideas. The Women in Tech Accelerator supports women entrepreneurs not only with funding but also mentorship, structured guidance, and the tools needed to scale confidently. Together, we are fostering an ecosystem where women-led enterprises can make significant economic contributions across Pakistan.”
Top 3 Winners
1. Yumkins Foods – Winner (PKR 5 Million)
Founded by Hira Mubeen, a nutritionist and entrepreneur, Yumkins Foods is Pakistan’s first fresh, preservative-free baby food brand catering to infants and toddlers aged six months to five years. Locally produced under HACCP-certified standards using organic ingredients, Yumkins bridges the gap in a market dominated by imported processed food. With 85% customer satisfaction, 40% repeat orders, and expanding operations to Lahore, Islamabad, and GCC markets, Yumkins is redefining childhood nutrition through freshness, science, and maternal care.
2. Atfaal – 1st Runner Up (PKR 3.5 Million)
Founded by Erum Sheheryar in 2020, Atfaal empowers women from underprivileged communities through its “Training + Work” model, providing stitching skills and sustainable income. The brand upcycles textile waste into affordable, stylish kidswear sold online and through pop-ups. With PKR 4.3 million in annual revenue, 5,000+ garments sold, and 40 women empowered, Atfaal now aims to expand training to 60 more women and repurpose 14 tonnes of fabric waste, proving that sustainability and profitability can coexist.
3. Ootein – 2nd Runner Up (PKR 2 Million)
Founded by Maria Ameer and Rabia Ameer, Ootein is Pakistan’s first certified allergen-free food brand, offering gluten-, lactose-, nut-, and refined sugar–free products. Built from personal experience, the brand serves 14.7 million Pakistanis with food allergies. With 3,000+ customers, a 40% repeat purchase rate, and PKR 2.2 million in annual revenue, Ootein is scaling to 10+ cities and training women in allergen-safe production — turning empathy and science into accessible nutrition.
Through this program, Standard Chartered’s Women in Tech Accelerator continues to nurture Pakistan’s female entrepreneurship ecosystem — empowering women founders to innovate, grow, and lead sustainable impact-driven businesses.
