Customary Chartered Kenya, in partnership with @iBizAfrica – Strathmore College, have introduced Cohort 8 of the Ladies in Tech (WiT) Accelerator Programme, awarding them KES 9.1 million in seed funding.
The seven women-led ventures acquired KES 1.3 million every plus instruments, coaching and networks to assist them scale.
In response to Dr. Joseph Sevilla, Director @iLabAfrica and @iBizAfrica – Strathmore College, “These ladies are reimagining industries and rewriting the story of African innovation. Their braveness, creativity and dedication to affect mirror the very essence of Strathmore College’s mission to develop leaders who remodel society. When ladies rise in know-how, total communities rise with them.”
The eighth cohort, launched in July 2025, acquired 84 functions from women-led enterprises throughout Kenya, with fifteen chosen for a 12-week enterprise accelerator programme centered on sustainability, ESG integration, monetary and enterprise modelling and product improvement.
In response to a World Financial institution examine, Ladies-owned companies in Sub-Saharan Africa contribute as much as 13% of Gross Home Product [GDP] and generate 23% much less income than male-owned corporations, highlighting a KES 41 trillion [$316 billion] alternative, if the hole closes and with additional digital adoption.
The 7 winners embody Etiba East Africa which gives in-home medical and wellness providers for sufferers needing personaliSed, handy well being help; UzimaNexus, a digital working system enhancing healthcare transparency, entry, and effectivity for sufferers and suppliers; Pollen Patrollers, which builds sensible hive-monitoring know-how to assist beekeepers scale back colony loss and enhance bee well being and Tuwe Bora, a sustainable textile model producing handcrafted clothes, coaching tailors, and recycling textile waste.
The remaining embody Busu Skincare which develops pure, community-powered African skincare merchandise utilizing regionally sourced components; Timao Group which converts plastic waste into inexpensive, eco-friendly constructing supplies for sustainable development and AshaCare which gives tailor-made neighborhood healthcare options to enhance entry, high quality, and supply of care.
Since 2017, the programme has acquired over 1,621 candidates, efficiently supporting 8 cohorts [93 women-led ventures] with 46 companies receiving a complete of KES 50.6 million [USD460,000] in funding. These startups have additionally benefitted from non-financial experience together with mentorship, enterprise advisory, teaching, networking and investor alternatives.
The 15 startups on this cohort characterize Kenya’s most dynamic sectors together with schooling, well being know-how, neighborhood care, sustainability, meals innovation and artistic industries. Their options reply on to Kenya’s evolving social and financial wants, with know-how as a central enabler. The seven awarded women-led startups demonstrated excellence based mostly on high three standards; answer innovation, availability of market alternative and social affect in Kenya, amongst others.
Customary Chartered information reveals that WIT alumni have gone on to create on common three new jobs per companies, creating a complete of 280 jobs. Bena Care Ltd, an impressive WIT alumnus that gives inexpensive home-based nursing care and in-home remedy for sufferers in want of long-term care, has gone on to generate over KES 2.47billion in annual income.
Customary Chartered Kenya Board Director Nivi Sharma stated: “Each girl graduating in the present day represents resilience, imaginative and prescient and the ability of chance. It’s an honour to rejoice innovators who’re breaking limitations and creating affect of their communities. By the Ladies in Tech Programme, Customary Chartered continues to take a position deliberately in ladies as a result of we all know that when ladies lead, innovation turns into extra inclusive, sustainable and far-reaching. These graduates are setting the tempo for Kenya’s future.”
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