Standard Chartered Foundation and Village Capital have opened applications for the eighth edition of the Women in Tech Accelerator in the UAE, offering women-led tech startups investment readiness training, equity-free grant funding and access to international networks.
The 2026 UAE cohort will be delivered by B Corp-certified consultancy C3, with Demo Day prizes totalling USD 150,000 available to participating founders. Applications close 15 May 2026, with the programme running from June to October.
The programme’s UAE track has supported 61 women-led startups since launch. Notable alumni include Biosapien, which raised USD 7 million in pre-Series A funding, and Ostaz, acquired by Inspired Education Group. Five alumni have been recognised on the UAE Future 100 list by the Ministry of Economy.
Across the broader programme in 2025, 71 women-led startups in Africa, the Middle East and Pakistan collectively generated over USD 2 million in additional revenue, according to Village Capital.
Globally, the accelerator has supported more than 4,000 women across 17 markets since inception. This year’s edition has allocated more than USD 600,000 in grant funding across 12 markets.
