FutureMakers Women in Tech Program: Pan-African/Near East Grants & Mentorship for Female Founders (USD $600K Pool)

Introduction — why this program matters now

There’s a growing movement across Africa and parts of Asia and the Near East to move women from the margins of entrepreneurship into the center of tech innovation. Programs that combine catalytic capital with tailored mentorship and local ecosystems are the most effective levers for impact. The FutureMakers Women in Tech initiative—run under Standard Chartered’s Futuremakers umbrella and delivered locally with implementation partners—has evolved into one of those levers. In recent expansions, the initiative has committed significant resources to help women-led, tech-enabled startups scale across multiple markets.

This article unpacks the program’s structure, the benefits and pitfalls, how to prepare a competitive application, and how to convert program participation into long-term scale and funding success. The advice is practical and geared toward founders in Africa, the Near East, and Asia—with clear, step-by-step instructions that a first-time applicant can follow from start to finish.

Quick snapshot (high-level): What the FutureMakers Women in Tech program offers

Target: women founders (founder/co-founder) of tech-enabled startups
Geography: multi-market cohorts across Africa, the Middle East, and Pakistan (10+ markets)
Support package: tailored accelerator training, mentorship, market access, investor visibility, and equity-free seed/catalytic grants drawn from a larger funding allocation (annual catalytic funding of >USD 600k across markets).
Delivery partners: local implementing partners and global partners (e.g., Village Capital and local incubators) to run market-specific cohorts.

Two authoritative pages I used while researching are linked below for your reference (and they’re embedded in context later in the post): the Standard Chartered press release about the program expansion, and the Village Capital program page explaining local delivery and eligibility.

Why a combined approach (grants + mentorship) outperforms pure grant models

When programs only provide cash, they sometimes leave founders without the human capital or network to spend the money effectively. Conversely, mentorship without catalytic capital often leaves founders stuck between strategy and execution. The FutureMakers Women in Tech model blends:

Equity-free grants (to remove immediate capital constraints)
Accelerator style curricula (to teach scale playbooks, financial discipline, and customer acquisition)
Mentorship (to open doors to investors, partners, and markets)

This combination is essential for frontier markets where access to capital and networks is uneven and where gender dynamics often create additional hurdles.

The program at a glance — comparison table

This table helps you quickly compare program features, what to expect in different countries, and typical grant sizes. Use it to decide where your best fit might be.

Dimension	What FutureMakers WIT offers	Typical country variations
Program length	6–12 weeks (intensive cohort + mentorship)	Some markets run 7-week core + extended follow-on support
Funding model	Equity-free grants from pooled funding (part of ~USD $600k annual pool)	Top finalists in each country often receive seed grants (examples: $10k–$50k depending on market)
Eligibility	Female founder(s), tech-enabled business, traction (early revenue / users)	Local legal registration often required; some cohorts emphasize youth founders
Delivering partners	Standard Chartered Foundation + Village Capital + local incubators	Local partners vary (e.g., iBizAfrica/Strathmore in Kenya; EDF/other hubs in Nigeria)
Outcome	Catalyst funding, investor readiness, network access	Outcomes are consistent—some alumni secure follow-on funding and corporate partnerships
Focus sectors	FinTech, HealthTech, EdTech, AgriTech, GreenTech, e-commerce, AI	Variation exists depending on local priority sectors and hub expertise

Program eligibility — practical checklist

Before you apply, confirm you can tick these boxes:

Primary applicant is a woman founder (or female co-founder acting as lead applicant)
Business is tech-enabled (platform, app, digital product, automation, data service)
Legal registration in the target country or demonstrable plan to register (many country cohorts require registration)
Demonstrable traction: users, partnerships, or revenue (varies by market but essential)
Minimum team size (often 1–10 employees for early cohorts) — check specific cohort rules
Readiness to commit to the accelerator schedule and mentorship sessions

Step-by-step application guide (beginner friendly)

Below is a complete A → Z operational checklist you can follow. Treat it as your implementation playbook.

Step 0 — Before you begin: a quick reality check

Ask yourself: Do I have an MVP, early users or customers, and a basic financial picture (revenues or pilot metrics)? If yes, proceed. If no, build a minimum viable product and a 3-month pilot first.

Step 1 — Identify the right country cohort and dates

Visit the official program pages (country pages and implementing partner pages) and confirm deadlines. Local cohorts differ by country and may open on different schedules. Village Capital lists market details and partners.

Step 2 — Compile documents (do this before opening the application)

Required items typically include:

Founder CV / LinkedIn snapshot (highlight leadership & domain experience)
Short company profile (1 page) and pitch deck (10–15 slides)
Proof of registration (or plan to register) and tax compliance if applicable
Basic financials: last 6–12 months revenue, burn, and 12-month forecast (simple spreadsheet)
Product demo: live site URL, app link, or 2-3 minute screencast on YouTube/Vimeo
One or two customer testimonials or letters of intent from pilot partners

Quick formatting tips: PDFs for docs, spreadsheets as .xlsx or Google Sheets links, and short video links (no long files).

Step 3 — Nail the application narrative (question by question)

Applications often include short-answer prompts. Use the following micro-structure for 250–400 word answers:

One-line summary (what you do, in plain English)
The problem (who struggles and why) — include a statistic if possible
Your solution (be concrete) — show tech edge, unit economics, or a workflow diagram
Traction snapshot (users, revenue, partnerships) — metrics matter more than adjectives
The ask (what you will do with the program’s funding and mentorship) — be specific

Step 4 — Create a high-impact pitch deck

Slides to include:

Cover: One-line mission & logo
Problem: Real world story + data
Solution: Product demo screenshots or user flow
Market: Size (TAM/SAM/SOM) and first markets
Business model: How you make money (unit economics)
Traction: 3–5 KPIs (revenue, users, retention)
Team: Key people & advisors
Roadmap & milestones: 12-month plan with metrics
Use of funds: Exactly how you’ll spend grant + expected outcomes
Ask & contact details

Tip: Use simple visuals and keep text minimal — judges read many decks.

Step 5 — Video pitch (if requested)

If the form asks for a 2-3 minute video:

Script: 30s problem — 60s solution/traction — 30s ask
Shoot in a quiet, well-lit place; clear audio; tight framing
Show product screens if relevant
End with a clear call to action: “We will use the grant to… and our 12-month target is…”

Step 6 — Submit and follow up

Double-check all fields, file formats, and links.
Ensure your email is reachable and calendar free on expected interview dates.
After submission, prepare to be shortlisted: have your pitch deck refined and practice Q&A.

Step 7 — Interview / pitch day preparation

Common evaluation areas:

Product–market fit: do customers use and pay?
Scale potential: is the model replicable?
Team: do founders show execution ability?
Financial realism: can you show realistic growth with the grant?

Practice answers to probable questions: unit economics, CAC vs LTV, regulatory hurdles, competition, and exit strategy.

Step 8 — Onboarding & program success metrics

If accepted, you’ll be expected to commit to milestones:

Weekly mentorship check-ins
Monthly growth metrics shared with the program team
Demo day pitch (final presentation)
Alumni obligations (mentoring next cohort, reporting outcomes)

How the funding is typically distributed (practical expectations)

The USD $600k figure cited in program summaries describes the total catalytic funding allocated across participating markets annually—not that every founder gets a share of USD $600k. Instead:

Each country cohort usually offers a set number of equity-free seed grants to finalists (for example, multiple finalists might receive $10k each; top winners in some cohorts have received $30–50k).

This structure means your strategy should be to maximize both program learning and competitiveness for the top grants, since grants go to teams that demonstrate both impact and readiness.

Key insights — how to increase your chances (evidence-based tips)

Demonstrate measurable traction
Judges prefer metrics (MAU, revenue, retention) to hypothetical narratives. Show even a small but steady growth trend.
Focus on impact + scalability
The program favors women-led ventures that produce social or environmental good and can scale commercially.
Build strategic partnerships
Partnerships with NGOs, corporates, or government entities signal that you can access customers and markets.
Be coachable
Mentors will evaluate your responsiveness to feedback—document a prior pivot and what you learned.
Be culturally and locally grounded
Local market insights and tailored product features often outperform global “one size fits all” pitches.
Clear use of funds
A 6-12 month spending plan that links funding to measurable outputs (users, revenue, pilots) shows maturity.

These insights are grounded in how accelerators and partners such as Village Capital implement localized selection and program design.

Your Statement of Purpose — short template (copy/paste)

Use this as a base and adapt to your startup:

Intro (1 paragraph): I’m [Name], founder of [Startup]. We build [short plain description of product] to solve [problem].
Problem (1 paragraph): [1–2 stats or short stories showing problem scale].
Solution (1 paragraph): Our solution [describe tech/approach], which has resulted in [traction metric].
Impact & Scale (1 paragraph): With targeted support, we will [specific outcomes e.g., reach X users, generate Y revenue, employ Z people].
Why FutureMakers (1 paragraph): The mentorship and catalytic funding would allow us to [explain exact use and milestones].
Closing (1 sentence): We welcome the opportunity to join the cohort and scale responsibly.

Common application mistakes — and how to avoid them

Overconfidence in projections — Use conservative assumptions and show how you would de-risk key assumptions (pilot, unit tests).
Weak product market narrative — Replace vague claims with customer quotes, pilot data, and real metrics.
Missing local compliance — Register your business early; some country cohorts disqualify unregistered entities.
Under-documented team roles — Show who will execute; trainers and mentors prioritize clear ownership.
Not asking specific, measurable asks — “We need funding to scale” is weak; say exactly how many users or revenue you’ll deliver with the grant.

Post-program strategy — how to convert program momentum into funding and scale

Lean on mentor networks — Campaign for introductions to investors that mentors suggest.
Document learning and iterate — Share impact metrics publicly (reports, blog posts) to show momentum.
Use alumni networks — Form cross-country partnerships for market expansion.
Plan follow-on funding — Have a pipeline: angel → VC → strategic corporate partnership.
Recruit smartly — Use seed funding to hire for product/engineering gaps that unlock next milestones.

Sector focus: what works best in Africa & parts of Asia

FinTech: Payments, micro-lending, and MSME accounting. Regulation is an entry hurdle but offers defensibility.
AgriTech: Last-mile supply, extension services, and market linkages; high local impact.
HealthTech: Telemedicine and diagnostics; needs strong compliance and partnerships.
EdTech: Low cost, scalable models for skills training and assessment—good fit where internet/mobile penetration is rising.
GreenTech / Renewable: Solar, waste management, and circular economy tech—aligned with SDG goals and often attractive to impact investors.

Country cohorts sometimes prioritize specific sectors depending on where local partners have strength—review your local cohort page to align.

Real-world case studies & outcomes (what winners achieved)

Note: specific alumni details vary per cohort, but standard outcomes observed across cohorts include:

Increased revenue & users: Alumni often record 2x–5x growth in the 6–12 months after participation due to improved product-market positioning and investor introductions.
Follow-on funding: Several finalists have secured angel or seed rounds after demo days, leveraging mentor introductions.
Market expansion: Winners often expand to neighboring countries with mentorship-supported market entry plans.

FAQ — concise but useful

Q: Is the funding repayable or equity-taking?
A: No — the grants are equity-free and non-repayable (catalytic funding). However program terms vary slightly by country—review cohort rules.

Q: Can early stage (pre-revenue) startups apply?
A: Some early teams can apply if they have an MVP and pilot metrics, but most cohorts prioritize demonstrable traction.

Q: Can male co-founders be on the team?
A: Yes, but the principal founder or lead applicant is typically expected to be female.

Q: Are non-profit tech ventures eligible?
A: Many cohorts focus on for-profit social enterprises; nonprofits may be eligible depending on cohort rules—check local partner guidelines.

Q: What languages are applications in?
A: English is the primary language for most cohorts, though local partners may accept other regional languages for particular markets.

Conclusion — how to approach this opportunity strategically

The FutureMakers Women in Tech initiative is more than a funding window; it is a gateway to systemic support—structured training, industry mentors, and an alumni network that amplifies future fundraise and scaling potential. For female founders in Africa, the Near East, and parts of Asia, it represents a realistic path to transform pilot projects into sustainable, scalable enterprises.

If you’re considering applying:

Start early (prepare docs and a solid pitch deck)
Demonstrate real traction (even small numbers are persuasive)
Be precise about how the grant will unlock measurable growth
Use mentors to unlock partnerships and investor intros

Apply with clarity, show your numbers, and highlight the social or environmental impact your company will produce. The combination of technical excellence, local insight, and a clear scaling plan will make your application stand out.

Final call to action: Prepare your deck, gather your documents, and apply to your country cohort. Share your draft pitch and I’ll help refine it for demo day.

Sources & reading (hyperlinked in context above)

Standard Chartered press release: Standard Chartered boosts investment in its Futuremakers Women in Tech programme across Africa, the Middle East and Pakistan. Standard Chartered Bank
Village Capital program page: Futuremakers Women in Tech Program 2025 — program overview and country partners. vilcap.com

(These two links were used to confirm program expansion, delivery partners, countries covered, and the catalytic funding round. Additional country-level details were drawn from local cohort pages and press coverage; links to select country pages—e.g., Kenya, Nigeria—are referenced where relevant in the body summary above.) Opportunities For Africans+1