Standard Chartered, in partnership with Falak Investment Hub, has announced the selection of ten women-led Saudi startups to join the third cohort of the Futuremakers Women in Tech programmein the Kingdom.
Program Details
This initiative continues to serve as a platform for empowering female entrepreneurs who drive innovation and contribute to the growth of key sectors across Saudi Arabia.
The programme is part of Standard Chartered’s global Futuremakers Women in Tech Initiative and is supported by strategic partners including the General Authority for Small and Medium Enterprises (Monsha’at), and the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology (MCIT) Code Center, in support of enhancing the presence of Saudi women in the technical entrepreneurship sector.
Following a competitive application and evaluation process, ten founders were selectedby a judging committee in the presence of Nada Aljeffri, Chief Risk Officer, Standard Chartered Saudi Arabia, Adwa Aldakheel, Founder and CEO of Falak Investment Hub, HadeelFarasani, Women Entrepreneurship Team Leader, Monsha’at and Adel Alzakari, Digital Innovation Director at the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology.
Officials’ Statements
Mazen Bunyan, Chief Executive Officer& Head of Banking and Coverage, Standard Chartered Saudi Arabia, stated:
“We are proud of the Futuremakers Women in Tech programme and to witnessthe selection of these ten startups”.
HE e said:
“The applicants represent a wide range of industries and ideas, showcasing the depth of talent and innovation among female entrepreneurs in the region”.
He add:
“We have seen the programme go from strength-to-strength year-on-year, with an impressive 87.5% increase in applications this year, so I am excited to see what this edition will bring.”
Adwa Aldakheel, Founder and CEO of Falak Investment Hub, stated:
“This selection marks a new phase of empowering women entrepreneurs in the Kingdom. We proudly support them with our expertise and network to develop promising tech startups that can create local and global impact.”
The third cohort attracted 135 applicationsfrom 17 cities across the Kingdom, spanning 13 diverse sectors, resulting in a competitive acceptance rate of approximately 6.5%. Notably, 24% of selected founders are embarking on their first entrepreneurial venture, reflecting the growing enthusiasm among Saudi women to step into the tech startup ecosystem.
The selected ten startups are:Makan Design,Interior Design, Artificial Intelligence (AI); Pixconvey, Smart Technologies; Wittify, Software as a Service (SaaS), AI; Talents Arena, Human Resources and Recruitment, AI; Decorist.ai, Interior Design, AI; SDM – HealthTech; Taawoni, Internship Management, SaaS; Aya, E-Commerce, AI; Hakiem, HealthTech; and Adel, LegalTech.
Over the course of eight weeks, the selected startups will participate in a rigorous acceleration journey that includes specialised workshops, one-on-one mentorship, and direct engagement with regional investor networks. The top three startups will also be awarded a total of USD 45,000 in equity-free grants to support their business growth and market expansion.
The Futuremakers Women in Tech programmereaffirms Standard Chartered’s ongoing commitment to empowering Saudi women and youth and fostering economic inclusion in line with Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 objectives.
To date, the Women in Tech Saudi Arabiaprogramme has supported over 20 female founders and awarded more than $100,000 in funding since it launched in 2022.
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