All You Need to Know About UAE’s Women in Tech Accelerator 2026

The Standard Chartered Foundation has officially launched the 8th edition of its Women in Tech Accelerator in the UAE, continuing its commitment to supporting female entrepreneurs and having already supported 61 women-led startups. In partnership with Village Capital, a global impact accelerator, and delivered locally by C3 – Companies Creating Change, the programme offers a comprehensive platform for women-led startups to scale, innovate, and make a sustainable impact.

Designed for early-stage, tech-enabled ventures, the accelerator provides participants with mentorship, investment-readiness training, tailored workshops, and access to global networks. Startups also have the opportunity to compete for up to $150,000 in equity-free funding, helping founders turn bold ideas into scalable, impactful businesses.

“Through this programme, we aim to empower women entrepreneurs to lead with purpose, scale their ventures, and unlock opportunities in the UAE’s evolving digital economy,” said Rola Abu Manneh, CEO of Standard Chartered UAE, Middle East & Pakistan.

Eligible startups must have a gender-diverse team with at least one female co-founder, be operational for at least one year with a Minimum Viable Product (seed-stage to pre-series A), demonstrate innovative and scalable solutions, and show measurable social, environmental, or economic impact. They must also be registered and operating in the UAE and be available for both in-person and online programme activities.

Applications are now open, with the submission deadline set for Sunday 10th of May, 2026.