“We came into this programme with a product, but we are leaving with a business and a clear vision of how to scale it.”

For Juliet Sospeter, CEO and Founder of NicoWapy Hub, those words captured 12 weeks of learning, uncertainty, ambition and transformation. What began as an idea with the potential to solve a problem had evolved a business with a clearer purpose and a pathway to growth.

On September 29^th 2026, that journey reached a significant milestone as 15 women entrepreneurs graduated from the ninth cohort of the Women in Tech Kenya Accelerator, with seven startups receiving a combined KES 9 million in grant funding.

The awards ceremony, held at Standard Chartered in Nairobi, celebrated women who are harnessing technology to address challenges in healthcare, agriculture, education, financial inclusion and other sectors. Each winning startup received approximately KShs. 1.29 million to support product development, business growth and expansion.

Behind the funding announcements were businesses tackling challenges that affect everyday lives.

Premac Care is connecting families with trained healthcare professionals for maternal and newborn care, elderly care and specialised nursing. ChipuRobo is making AI and robotics education more accessible through locally fabricated learning kits, while Uptyke Consulting is developing AI-powered digital learning solutions for learners with disabilities.

In agriculture, Nakuru Tubers is connecting smallholder farmers to verified agricultural inputs, while FishBox Africa and Trident Analytics are using technology to improve aquaculture productivity and farm management. Seta Farm, meanwhile, is transforming organic waste into mushrooms while creating income opportunities for women and young people.

The seven startups were selected through a competitive judging process assessing innovation, business models, market opportunities, growth potential and social or economic impact.

For Strathmore University Vice Chancellor, Dr. Vincent Ogutu, the innovations embodied the ceremony’s theme, Inspire and Impact.

“Inspire and impact are two of my favourite words. Entrepreneurs are doers. They identify problems, develop solutions and create meaningful impact. Inspiration, on the other hand, is about thinking beyond yourself and recognising the people whose lives you can transform,” he said.

Dr. Ogutu challenged the entrepreneurs to pursue excellence in solving real-world problems and use their achievements to inspire the next generation of women innovators.

Organised by the Standard Chartered Foundation in partnership with Village Capital and @iBizAfrica, Strathmore University, the accelerator equips women-led, technology-enabled businesses with mentorship, business development support, investment readiness training and access to networks.

For Mr. Birju Sanghrajka, Chief Executive Officer and Head of Coverage, Standard Chartered Kenya, supporting women entrepreneurs is both an economic opportunity and an investment in the next generation of leaders.

He noted that women continue to face barriers to accessing finance, despite their potential to drive innovation and economic growth. Technology, he emphasised, provides an opportunity to develop solutions to increasingly complex challenges.

He also urged the entrepreneurs to embrace resilience.

“As you move forward in your entrepreneurial journeys, resilience will be one of your greatest assets. Challenges will inevitably emerge, and how you respond to them will determine your ability to succeed. Stay connected to your cohort and support one another. You do not have to navigate this journey alone,” said Mr. Sanghrajka.

For Sospeter, that spirit of collaboration was among the programme’s most important lessons. The mentors had challenged participants to think beyond their products, develop stronger business models and build intentionally.

“We need the courage to start and the willingness to learn that we do not have to build alone,” she remarked.

Since its launch in Kenya in 2017, the Women in Tech programme has supported 107 women-led startups and awarded more than KShs. 51.5 million in funding.

The wider accelerator is now active in 14 Standard Chartered markets across Africa, the Middle East, Asia and the United States, having supported more than 4,000 entrepreneurs.

Dr. Ogutu attributed the programme’s growth to the strength of its founding partnerships and a shared commitment to nurturing entrepreneurs whose innovations create lasting value.

For the 15 graduating founders, the ceremony marked the beginning of another chapter, one in which their ideas must find markets, their businesses must grow and their innovations must continue to make a difference.

Article Written by Stephen Wakhu