Women in Tech Accelerator Pakistan announces eighth cohort winners
Standard Chartered Foundation, in partnership with INNOVentures Global and Village Capital, has concluded the eighth cohort of the Women in Tech Accelerator for Pakistan, awarding three women-led start-ups equity-free grant funding totalling Rs10.5 million at a graduation ceremony in Karachi. EV Square, founded by Aimen Shafique, received the first prize of Rs5 million, while Blusha App, founded…
The Women in Tech Accelerator Pakistan has concluded its eighth cohort, awarding three equity-free grant funding amountsing Rs10.5 million to women-led start-ups during a graduation ceremony in Karachi. The funding was distributed to EV Square, led by Aimen Shafique, who received Rs5 million as the first prize; Blusha App, founded by Minahil Zafar, who took home Rs3 million as the second prize; and Zvolta, founded by Anusha Shahid, who was awarded Rs2.5 million as the third prize.
The winners will also gain additional six months of guidance and financial monitoring, as well as lifetime membership in the Women in Tech Alumni Network. The accelerator program started with 30 founders, undergoing a six-day bootcamp before proceeding to 10 women entrepreneurs who received mentorship, tailored investment-readiness support, and industry connections.
The programme also provided opportunities for participants to improve their business models, competitive edge, scalability, and funding strategies, with a two-stage funding intervention for high-potential startups from the cohort. Adil Salahuddin, CEO & Head of Coverage, Standard Chartered Pakistan, congratulated the cohort 8 founders, stating the programme's goal is to help entrepreneurs scale sustainably, create jobs, and deliver lasting impact.
British Deputy High Commissioner in Karachi, Alison Blackburne, praised Pakistan's women entrepreneurs for turning bold ideas into businesses that generate employment and improve lives, commending Standard Chartered Foundation and its partners for providing funding, skills, and networks to grow businesses and shape Pakistan's future.
The Pakistan Accelerator is part of the Standard Chartered Foundation's global Women in Tech initiative, which has supported more than 200 women-led start-ups globally and aims to support 400 women entrepreneurs across 12 countries over three years, distributing over $1.9 million in catalytic grants and enabling more than 1,200 jobs.
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