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Karachi, September 23, 2026: Three women-led start-ups have won PKR 10.5 million in equity-free grants under the Women in Tech Accelerator Pakistan programme.
The programme is backed by the Standard Chartered Foundation and delivered by INNOVentures Global in partnership with Village Capital.
EV Square, founded by Aimen Shafique, won the first prize of PKR 5 million. Blusha App, founded by Minahil Zafar, secured the second prize of PKR 3 million. Zvolta, founded by Anusha Shahid, received the third prize of PKR 2.5 million.
The three winners will also receive six months of hand-holding and financial oversight. In addition, they will become lifelong members of the Women in Tech Alumni Network.
The eighth cohort of the accelerator began with 30 women founders. They took part in an intensive six-day bootcamp focused on building and growing technology-driven businesses.
Following the bootcamp, 10 women entrepreneurs received three months of tailored investment-readiness support. They also received expert mentorship and guidance on key areas of their businesses.
The support covered business models, competitive advantage, scalability and funding strategies. Moreover, the programme included a two-stage funding intervention to provide additional support to high-potential start-ups.
Adil Salahuddin, CEO and Head of Coverage at Standard Chartered Pakistan, congratulated the winners. He said the programme provides women entrepreneurs with mentorship, business advice, industry connections and opportunities to build their capabilities.
British Deputy High Commissioner in Karachi Alison Blackburne also congratulated the winners. She highlighted the role of women entrepreneurs in turning ideas into businesses that create jobs and improve lives.
A panel of industry experts selected the winners. The panel included Ghias Khan, Independent Non-Executive Director and Member of the Board of Directors of Standard Chartered Pakistan; Saad Amanullah, Board Member of FFC and President of PILAP; Musharaf Hai, former CEO of Unilever Pakistan; and Sara Khurram, CEO of Sehat Kahani.
The Women in Tech Accelerator Pakistan programme supports women entrepreneurs who are building innovative, technology-enabled businesses. These businesses aim to address market and community needs.
The Pakistan accelerator is part of the Standard Chartered Foundation’s global Women in Tech initiative. Since its launch, the programme has supported more than 200 women-led start-ups in Pakistan through mentorship.
It has also awarded more than US$425,000 in grant funding to women entrepreneurs across the country.
The latest cohort highlights the growing role of women-led businesses in Pakistan’s technology and start-up ecosystem.
