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15 Women-led startups selected to join Standard Chartered USD 175K Women in Tech Cohort 6 program
- The top 15 Women led startups selected to join the Women in Tech Cohort 6
- 15 Kenyan companies will access 12 weeks of incubation, which will culminate in 7 of them getting KShs 1,200,000 million in funding to grow their businesses.
Standard Chartered Kenya in partnership with @iBizAfrica- Strathmore University have today shortlisted fifteen (15) women-led startups that will be undergoing 12 weeks of business incubation training under the Women in Tech Program. This will culminate in seven of the women led businesses receiving USD 10,000 each in funding to grow their businesses.
Standard Chartered Women in Tech (WiT) supports female-led entrepreneurial teams with business management training, mentoring, and seed funding. This year’s top 15 teams were selected from a pool of over 250 startups that applied for the program from different sectors, such as agritech, fintech, the healthcare industry, mobility tech, disability tech, and the construction industry. This is an increase from the previous cohorts, where 10 businesses were incubated and 5 startups per cohort each received funding.
The shortlisting criteria were rigorous and required the selected teams to demonstrate capacity in execution, showcase potential to solve socio-economic challenges in Kenya, have a balanced skill set (team lead, business development, product development, and marketing), while ensuring that they leverage technology.
Commenting on the program, Standard Chartered’s Head of Corporate Affairs, Brand and Marketing East Africa, Ms. Joyce Kibe, stated;
“I wish to congratulate the fifteen women-led enterprises that made it out of a pool of over 250 startups and the rigorous shortlisting criteria to join this forward-thinking, efficient, and transformative Women in Tech Cohort 6 program. As Standard Chartered, we are delighted to have scaled the number from the previous cohorts, where 10 businesses were incubated.”
She further alleged: “Our continued funding of this programme is as a result of research that indicated that female-led startups in Africa attracted less funding in 2022 compared to male-led startups in the region. Women-led enterprises were more challenged by societal bottlenecks and financing limits, so we are pleased to contribute to closing the gap through increased capacity building and focused funding toward female-led enterprises.
I therefore encourage the beneficiaries to maximize this opportunity as we empower them to champion more diversity in technology and advance entrepreneurial and leadership excellence.
Speaking during the selection of the Top 15, Dr. Joseph Sevilla, Director of @iBizAfrica- Strathmor University, said;
The Women in Tech Program has been designed to bridge the finance and capacity building gap that women entrepreneurs face, and we are proud to have partnered with Standard Chartered Bank to further champion this cause through an additional cohort.
“I therefore also congratulate the successful beneficiaries and wish to encourage them to take advantage of this programme as it will equip them with the necessary coping mechanisms and professional skills through training, mentorship, and financial literacy that will resultantly contribute to their survival and success.
He added: As Strathmore University, we are confident that the financial contribution worth US 175K made by Standard Chartered towards the Women in Tech—Cohort 6 programme will go a long way in uplifting the participation of marginalized groups, tackling inequality, and promoting greater economic inclusion for women entrepreneurs in our country. As I conclude, I appeal to more men, as they constitute the majority of the workforce in the technology ecosystem, to offer more support to women in the computing and engineering spaces by taking up mentorship roles and opening doors for them.
To align with the theme for this year, Embracing Equity in Women-Led Businesses, the business incubation training has been modeled around emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, the Internet of Things (IoT), and big data, while additionally integrating the fundamentals of business idea conceptualization, strategy, formulation, and marketing, which will be key in moving businesses from incubation to sustainable ventures.
The Women in Tech Incubator Program is committed to being digital by design and supporting female entrepreneurs with technology to grow their businesses.
The 15 enterprises that will be starting the 12 weeks of mentorship @iBizAfrica the Women in Tech 2023 include: –
- Ecorich Solutions Limited -A start-up that provides cheap fertilizer. The company has developed a WasteBot decomposer device/smart recycling bin that use AI-enabled recycling to convert waste into valuable and affordable primary farm fertilizer.
- Imani Health Wallet – An e-wallet that enables people to save specifically for healthcare. It breaks down large payments into piecemeal payments that one can easily pay over time before they need the healthcare service.
- Sol Active (fusion) – A web platform where landlords can list their empty retail space for free, and brands can book it easily
- Saidiwa (squad) Rides – A hailing app that aims to bridge the gap between unreliable public transportation and relatively expensive digital taxis. It introduces a novel driver-passenger pairing model that permits daily commuters to share taxi seats and share costs.
- Ento Farm – A biotechnology company that produces protein-rich animal feed based on dried, inactive insects that are produced through the fermentation of organic waste.
- AgriTech Analytics – They build innovation capabilities of start ups and aspiring start ups in Kenyan universities to help geospatial information systems and AgriTech students develop rare and valuable tech skills needed to come up with profitable and sustainable solutions.
- Techtenum Minds LTD – An E-learning platform that aspires to raise subject matter experts by bridging the practical skill gap between traditional academic curriculum and latest job market needs.
- MyAfya Africa – A mental health organization and digi-health company dedicated to revolutionizing the accessibility and availability of mental health services.
- Rhea Soil Health Management Limited – An IOT soil analysis device that provides soil testing and agricultural extension services to smallholder farmers. A machine learning algorithm is then powered to make recommendations depending on the data shared.
- Know Learning Limited (Recess)- is a platform that enables parents to participate in their children’s learning processes by partnering with teachers and schools to improve the learning outcome. It additionally ensures that schools and parents are on the same page through facilitation of transparent and efficient dialogue on the child’s progress.
- Sign with us – A Sign Language Training Institution Based in Meru and Online The institution teaches sign language to anyone around the world who has a passion for it.
- Acre-insights – They use drones and satellites to collect high-resolution data on crop growth and development, soil moisture, and other key indicators. Through advanced analytics and machine learning algorithms to interpret this data and provide farmers with actionable insights to make informed decisions about irrigation, fertilizer application, and pest control.
- Instruct Africa – They provide affordable legal solutions to professionals in the informal sector
- Panacare: A healthcare company that provides affordable and accessible healthcare services through telemedicine. The company leverages USSD technology to offer consultations, remote monitoring, and tools that help patients manage their health and well-being without the need for internet access or smartphone devices.
- Tynka Global – A platform that connects entrepreneurs, experts, and investors, simplifying the process of forming partnerships. The platform’s open database of investors and businesses allows entrepreneurs to showcase their projects and attract potential investors.
Since its inception, the program has trained more than 10 small and medium businesses to leverage technology by offering mentorship, advisory services, coaching, networking opportunities, access to seed capital, and investor forums that help mold their businesses to international standards. 50 start-ups have participated to date, and 25 have been awarded over KES 1.2 million (USD 10,000) in seed funding. 50 businesses have so far gone through the incubation process, with the first five cohorts attracting over 2,000 applications.
Standard Chartered Bank supports women entrepreneurs as it launches USD 175K Women in Tech program – cohort 6
● The program will see 15 businesses get access to incubation and 7 businesses receive over KES 1.2 million (USD 10,000) in seed money.
● The theme for this year’s cohort is Embracing Equity in Women-Led Tech Businesses.
29th March 2023 – Nairobi, Kenya: Standard Chartered Kenya in partnership with @iBizAfrica- Strathmore University has today launched the 6th Cohort of the Women in Tech (WIT) Incubator Program. The program aims at championing more diversity in technology and advancing entrepreneurial and leadership excellence for women-led businesses. Edith Chumba, Standard Chartered Head of Consumer, Private and Business Banking and Strathmore University Vice Chancellor, Dr. Vincent Ogutu presided over the event at the bank’s Head Office.
The theme for this year’s cohort, Embracing Equity, is tied to the 2023 International Women’s Day theme and calls for more inclusion in the digital and technology space.
The 6th cohort of the Women in Tech program will see 15 applicants participate in a 12-week incubation program with 7 women-led startups receiving seed funding. This is an increase from the previous cohorts, where 10 businesses were incubated and 5 startups per cohort received funding. Businesses chosen to participate in the incubation program will undergo training, coaching, and mentorship offered by the @iBizAfrica- Strathmore University network of key industry experts, faculty, business leaders, experienced mentors, and professionals. Through the incubation, all the entrepreneurs will get expert training in the areas of idea conceptualization, strategy formulation, and marketing which is key in moving the businesses from incubation to sustainable ventures.
INTERNAL
Speaking during the launch, Edith Chumba said;
“Technology and innovation are key enablers of digital transformation and socio-economic growth in emerging markets. By empowering women-led businesses in the technology space to thrive, we not only contribute to their business growth but also drive sustainability and inclusion. The Women in Tech Program has been designed to bridge the finance and capacity-building gap that women entrepreneurs face, and we are excited to further champion this cause through an additional cohort. Furthermore, we have now scaled the program to create space for more participants and to channel increased funding to women-led enterprises. We encourage all eligible businesses to apply to the program as the evidence from previous cohorts proves that this is a forward-thinking, efficient, and transformative program. We are also pleased to continue our partnership with Strathmore and are grateful for their implementation support for the past 5 cohorts.’’ she concluded
The focus areas of this cohort will be centered around women-led startups with components of emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things; Big Data; Machine Learning; Robotics; Big Data, and Blockchain among others
Commenting on the need for equity and inclusion of women in entrepreneurship and leadership was the Strathmore University Vice Chancellor, Dr. Vincent Ogutu who stated;
‘’Women do business differently with a substantial number of them leaning towards social enterprises that make an impact on communities and economies as a whole. Driven by high work ethic and ambition, Africa holds the largest number of female-led enterprises, which highlights the need for more investment. The entrepreneurial and professional playing field is not level, which calls for more tools and systems that drive inclusion and equity, and in this regard, women entrepreneurs are setting the pace for by challenging societal biases and norms. Strathmore is proud to complement the advancements made by women entrepreneurs by providing training and capacity-building facilities that make it easier for them to access finance, scale, and innovate. We are happy to continue our partnership with Standard Chartered through the Women in Tech Program and are excited to work with the amazing businesses that apply and get to participate in the program.’’
Research indicates that female-led startups in Africa attracted less funding in 2022 compared to male-led startups in the region. Challenged by societal bottlenecks and financing limits, this points to a need for increased capacity building and focused funding toward female-led enterprises.
In the venture capital sector, nearly 85 percent of investors are men supporting male founders, while only 12 percent of VC firm decision-makers are women, but when these women do make decisions, they are twice as likely to invest in female-founded startups. Because men constitute the majority of the workforce in technical organizations, men can assist by taking up mentorship roles for women in the computing tech and engineering space.
Futuremakers by Standard Chartered
Women in Tech program is part of the Bank’s, Futuremakers by Standard Chartered initiative aimed at reducing social inequality amongst disadvantaged young people – especially girls and persons with disabilities learn, earn, and grow. The initiative empowers the next generation by focusing on education, employability, and entrepreneurship. The Women in Tech program is a partnership with @iBizAfrica – Strathmore University Incubation Centre.
Each year the program trains more than 10 small and medium businesses leveraging on technology by offering mentorship, advisory, coaching, networking opportunities, access to seed capital, and investor forums that help mold their businesses to international standards. 50 start-ups have participated to date, and 25 have been awarded over KES 1.2 million (USD 10,000) in seed funding. 50 businesses have so far gone through the incubation process with the first five cohorts attracting over 2,000 applications. More details on the Women in Tech program can be found at http://www.womenintech.co.ke
About @iBizAfrica, Strathmore University
@iBizAfrica is the business incubator of Strathmore University, a leading private University in Kenya. The incubator since 2012 provides a nurturing environment that builds on the potential of the youth to develop innovative solutions and businesses that work for the common good in society. @iBizAfrica over the years has provided over 1600 startup companies with training, advisory, mentorship, coaching, networking opportunities, and access to seed capital and investors. We prepare startups to be investor-ready and launch into the market through our custom incubation and acceleration programs.
For more information, please visit http://www.ibizafrica.ac.ke.
Follow us on our social media pages @iBizAfrica on Twitter and Facebook
Standard Chartered
We are a leading international banking group, with a presence in 59 of the world’s most dynamic markets and serving clients in a further 64. Our purpose is to drive commerce and prosperity through our unique diversity, and our heritage and values are expressed in our brand promise, here for good.
Standard Chartered PLC is listed on the London and Hong Kong Stock Exchanges.
For more stories and expert opinions please visit Insights at sc.com. Follow Standard Chartered on Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.
Demystifying Taxes for Startup growth
“Are you tax compliant ?”
This is a question that often brings bouts of anxiety and fear to startups, and business owners with many opting to bury their heads in the sand, whenever the topic arises. In fact, many startups are afraid to post their business on social media, for fear of the Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA) catching up with them.
However, should this really be the case? Fear, when taxes are mentioned? Where does Kenya rank in terms of taxes?
In 2021, Kenya’s Tax Revenue was reported at USD 3.968 billion as of September this was an improvement from the previous figure reported in the previous month of August of 2.344 USD billion, according to this survey. What is however shocking is that this figure taxed, only made up for 15 % of the population, according to a recent report which states that although Kenya has 19 million registered voters, only 2.5 million are registered taxpayers.
In order to break down the complexities around taxes for startups, @iBizAfrica Strathmore University in partnership with Standard Chartered Bank convened the third and final Women In Tech Townhall series themed Taxes, IP, and regulation: What every Kenyan startup needs to know, which featured Ms. Corazon Aquino, Senior Marketing and Communications officer at Kenya Revenue Authority (KRA).
It was an insightful and eye-opening session that allowed the current participants and alumni to understand more about the local regulatory landscape, the reprieves, and the incentives available for startups. It sought to bridge the gap between startups and KRA while eliminating the angst that existed on the part of startups and individuals where levies were concerned.
Ms. Corazon Aquino explained the essence of paying taxes and how they were responsible for creating a suitable business infrastructure. She mentioned that Kenya’s infrastructure was increasingly becoming conducive for startups owing to the recently introduced 5G connectivity as well as the digital tax policies being introduced to cater to startups. The conversation comprised the following takeaways;
- Tax compliance is not as difficult as it is perceived to be. In order to issue a tax compliance certificate, companies need to file their tax returns on time, even if they are NIL returns.
It is also important to note that KRA observes the principle of equality when it comes to taxes. A small taxpayer will not be taxed the same amount as a large taxpayer.
- Small taxpayers and startups are only required to pay 1% of their gross income as tax. However, for companies and individuals whose gross income or turnover amounts to KES. 24,000, these startups are automatically below the tax bracket.
- Medium-sized enterprise’s taxes are levied at 3% of their gross turnover which applies to companies earning KES.500,000 to KES. 5 million.
- Large taxpayers/corporations fall under the Corporate Tax, they, therefore, pay a 30 % tax rate of their net income against their business activities per annum.
2. KRA formulates avenues to reach taxpayers in a convenient way. Customers can now file their taxes from the comfort of their phones through mobile applications such as:
- KRA M-Service App as well as KRA Tv allowing customers to log in virtually and get assistance through online support and knowledge-sharing sessions on navigating the different types of tax.
- Ushuru Mashinani – In a bid to bring services closer to startups, individuals and taxpayers, KRA introduced the Ushuru Mashinani tour bus which has enabled different regions of the country such as Nanyuki, Marikiti among others to access the services at their own convenience. These regional visits serve as avenues for KRA to enlighten taxpayers on tax compliance matters.
3. KRA sustainability mechanisms for Youth and Women-led Startups to thrive in Kenya.
As a way of encouraging the sustainability of youth and women-led startups, KRA suppliers for tenders, priority is usually accorded to youth and women-led startups as per the constitution.
4. KRA Voluntary Tax Disclosure Program.
In 2021 KRA launched the Voluntary Tax Disclosure Program which was aimed at allowing taxpayers to confidentially disclose tax liabilities that were previously undisclosed for the purpose of being granted relief of penalties and interest of the tax disclosed.
“We began the Voluntary Tax Disclosure Program last year as a way of allowing individuals /startups to receive waivers on payments. Last year we gave a 100% waiver to those who enrolled, we did not charge penalties, they only paid principal,” Ms. Corazon stated “This year, KRA will be offering a 50% waiver on unpaid taxes. “
The session was the final of a three-part series aimed at bringing together participants of the program to understand more about taxes, IP, and regulation ahead of their graduation slated for December 14th, 2022 whereby 5 women startups out of the 9 startups who went through 9 months of incubation @iBizAfrica will be funded with USD 10,000 to scale their businesses.
Since 2017, @iBizAfrica, Incubation Centre – Strathmore University has been a key partner of Standard Chartered Bank through the Standard Chartered Women in Tech Incubator Programme. The program has attracted over 1,150 applicants through 4 Cohorts. 20 businesses have been able to receive seed funding for their businesses.
WOMEN IN TECH 5th COHORT LAUNCHED
The Standard Chartered Bank in partnership with @iBizAfrica – Strathmore University has launched the 5th Cohort of the Women in Tech incubator program. The program aims to support women in entrepreneurial and leadership skills through technology by allocating funding and incubation support.
This year’s theme, “Advancing global trends in women owned businesses” gives an indication that more focus will go towards women owned businesses to come up with corporate global trends which include; emerging technologies, sustainability, and digital economy accelerance.
Speaking during the event, Maureen Mbaka, Chief Administrative Secretary, Ministry of ICT, Innovation and Youth Affairs, said, “Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, many women-led businesses have mushroomed to become important contributors to the economy and this is because women have responded to the COVID-19 crisis with resilience and innovation.”
Makabelo Malumane – Head of Transaction Banking, Standard Chartered Bank said, “What makes the Women in Tech program powerful is not just the seed funding it provides, but the long term mentorship/training that the businesses receive. Over 40 women-founded start-ups have walked this journey with us.”
In the 5th cohort of the Women in Tech program, 10 applicants will be chosen to participate in the 12-week incubation program. These companies will undergo training, coaching and mentorship offered by @iBizAfrica- Strathmore University network of key industry experts, faculty, business leaders, experienced mentors, and professionals.
Through the incubation, all the entrepreneurs will get expert training in the areas of idea conceptualization, strategy formulation and marketing, which is key in moving the businesses from incubation to sustainable ventures.
Speaking during the launch, Mr. Emmanuel Kweyu, Deputy Director @iLabAfrica Research and Innovation Centre, Strathmore University said, “A healthy startup ecosystem is a diverse startup ecosystem. SMEs drive innovation and champion local entrepreneurial growth but women-led businesses tend to face more bias in their entrepreneurial journey. @iBizAfrica recognizes this and wants to give all women entrepreneurs the platform and exposure that they deserve to make them strive to create supportive communities that give them the tools and resources necessary for success. Providing equal opportunities to women-led startups is only the start. By participating in this program, we are certain that these women-led businesses will create and sustain a diverse startup ecosystem to tap into the full potential of emerging technologies and business models.”
Among the thematic areas that will be covered in the 5th cohort is post Covid-19 recovery, along with its intersection with the growth of internet media, AI & Big Data, gender diversity in businesses and green businesses. The 5th cohort provides a unique opportunity for women with unique innovations to grow their entrepreneurial success through capacity building, mentorship, coaching and access to financial support.
The Women in Tech program is part of the bank’s community engagement initiative, Futuremakers, that aims at tackling the issue of inequality and promoting greater economic inclusion for young people in various communities and economies, with a focus on girls and women.
Since the launch in 2017, the Women in Tech program has attracted over 1,150 applications supporting 4 Cohorts. Of the applicants, 41 businesses have gone through the program with 20 teams being awarded USD 10,000 each in seed money. Winning teams have ranged from ecommerce platforms to food supply and nutrition, beauty care, education, insurance, and more.
Women in Tech Cohort 5 will provide a unique opportunity for women with unique innovations to grow their entrepreneurial success through capacity building, mentorship, coaching and access to financial support. It aims to attract businesses using technology and digital resolutions to respond to global trends. 75 businesses will be mentored, 10 incubated and 5 businesses awarded with seed money.
WOMEN IN TECH 2020 INTAKE OPEN
The Search for Women led businesses is back! @iBizAfrica-Strathmore University in Partnership with Standard Chartered Bank Kenya is excited to Launch the Fourth Cohort of the Women in Tech 2020 program. The call for applicants is now open for women led small and medium businesses leveraging on technology and new business models to drive change and grow communities.
Globally, studies show that sub-Saharan Africa boasts the world’s highest rates of women entrepreneurs, at 27%. But female-led tech startups still have some of the lowest numbers across the continent, despite technology firms led by women experiencing a 35% higher return on investment.
The program theme for this year, “Accelerating the Digital Economy through Women Owned Businesses” reinforces the importance of scaling the gains of female focused entrepreneurial programs and expanding their mandate in bridging financing and industry gaps for early stage ventures.
The Top five participants will win Kes 1 million in seed funding. The teams will be taken through a 12week incubation mentorship and training through the Bank’s Employee Volunteering program. Through the incubation, all the entrepreneurs are offered expert training in the areas of idea conceptualization, strategy formulation and marketing which is key in moving the businesses from incubation to sustainable ventures.
Eligibility Criteria
- The business must be based in Kenya i.e. be aligned with the needs of Kenyans and operating in Kenya
- The company must be a tech-enabled and/or leveraging on emerging technologies, including but not limited to; Internet of Things (IoT); Artificial Intelligence; Robotics; Augmented & Virtual Reality; 3D & 4D Printing; Cloud Computing; Big Data; Blockchain; Drone Technology and Biometrics.
- The company must be founded or cofounded by a woman with an equal or majority stake.
- The founder or co founder must be over 18 years old and Kenyan
- Business models must have a clear focus on sustainability and alignment to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
- 3 months to less than 2 years of operations.
- Seeking support for proof of concept, customer, product and business model development.
- Pre-revenue with early traction (users).
- Post revenue is an added advantage, with the creation of a new business module.
Program Thematic Areas
Companies solving for any of the 17 SDGs with operations within, but not limited to the following sectors are eligible to apply for the programme;
- Agriculture
- Healthcare
- Education
- Manufacturing
- Information Technology
- Financial Services
- Logistics
Programme Benefits
- 12 weeks of an immersive learning experience
- Access to a leading network of coaching experts
- Access to B2B networking opportunities
- Personalized mentorship sessions to address your unique business needs
- Opportunity to join a supportive Women in Tech Alumni Network
- KES 1,000,000 equity-free grant seed funding for the top five finalists
- 9 months ongoing support from Standard Chartered and @iBizAfrica to assist with the go-to market and scale for the top five finalists.
The Women in Technology Incubator program is Africa’s leading women in tech incubator, that supports local tech businesses and calls for more diversity in the Information technology landscape by providing opportunities for women to develop entrepreneurial skills and leadership excellence.
To register Click here
Know more about the program Click >> https://www.womenintech.co.ke/
Why I was inspired to set up home nursing venture
SOURCE: Business Daily
Benacare was selected among five women-led start-ups that received Sh1 million seed funding in a programme funded by the Standard Chartered Bank and implemented at iBizAfrica- Strathmore University.
Low hospital bed availability has been linked to admission of patients requiring non-urgent medical care.
Some of these patients are occupying beds in the wards receiving personal care such as bathing, wound dressing and just taking tablets to manage their conditions.
Concerned by this, Naomi Monari started Benacare in 2017, a company providing home nursing services to people with life limiting illnesses.
Its 21 nurses and physiotherapists offer home-based care to patients dealing with diabetes, hypertension, cancer and dimentia at between Sh1,500 and Sh4,000 a day depending on the level of care.
“We have catered for around 320 clients across the country since we started,” says the 27-year-old certified nurse.
It is while doing her clinicals at Gatundu Level 5 hospital that she noticed a growing number of patients staying in hospitals for non-urgent medical care.
Her first client was an aged patient from Kisumu who had stayed in the ward for long due to his diabetic foot.
“I approached the son and offered to take care of his dad from home at a fee,” says the graduate of Amref International University.
Initially, it was a juggle between clinicals and Benacare before she decided to go full throttle into the enterprise.
Through referrals, the client base expanded, creating the need to register the company and hire more nurses on part-time and full-time basis.
Her business partner Brian Ajwang’, a brand designer, came on board a year later and handles mostly the administration side of the enterprise.
Aside from home-based care, Benacare supplies home care medical equipment such as hospital beds, mattresses, oxygen concentrators and suction machines.
“We learnt that when a client asks for home service, they don’t necessarily understand that it requires them to have certain things at home since they have not prepared,” says Mr Ajwang’ who has a background in marketing.
Today, the company based in Westlands, Nairobi, handles up to 50 clients at a time, earning Sh600,000 on average monthly.
Upon receiving a request for compassionate care, Benacare physically assesses the home to advise clients on what is required.
Clients are given the option of buying equipment from Benacare’s network of reputable suppliers.
“We also buy the used equipment from clients when they no longer need them. This helps clients offload while at the same time help us to have a business,” she says.
Part of what’s contained in the contract with clients is a condition that the care-giver is guaranteed a safe environment and that issues emerging are addressed with her/his employer and not directly with the nurse.
To guarantee safety to clients, nurses are thoroughly vetted based on their past jobs, nursing license and certificate of good conduct.
There is an indemnity insurance, in case a licensed nurse does something contrary to what is expected of them.
“To protect our nurses, we require them to document everything and this can stand in a court of law when the client accuses them,” says Ms Monari.
Benacare was selected among five women-led start-ups that received Sh1 million seed funding in a programme funded by the Standard Chartered Bank and implemented at iBizAfrica- Strathmore University.
The five were awarded after completing three-month incubation at iBizAfrica-Strathmore University’s tech incubator.
The others were Soul Food, Taste Afrique, Nature’s Touch and Arbes Biotech.
They were selected from 380 applicants that are using technology to tackle problems afflicting the community.
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Five Kenyan Women Tech Startups awarded Ksh 1 Million to fund their business.
@iBizAfrica a Business incubator at Strathmore University that provides a nurturing environment to builds on the potential of the youth to develop innovative solutions and businesses that work for the common good in society and Standard Chartered Bank [description of your organization], today announced they have awarded five local Women led tech businesses with Ksh 1Million each to help fund their business.
Congratulating winners, Standard Chartered Bank Kenya Chief Executive Officer Kariuki Ngari said the Women in Tech program aspires to support and nurture entrepreneurship, technology and business growth for women.
“Often, people ask why the focus on women and girls. The reality is that in Kenya and globally, women and girls fall behind in many aspects of development and equality. For instance, in Kenya who constitute about 50% of our population provide 80 percent of Kenya’s farm labour and manage 40 percent of the country’s smallholder farms yet own only 1 percent of agricultural land; and receive just 10 percent of available credit. This is why
there still needs to be continued focus on supporting this half of our population. As a bank, we want to do our part in empowering women and girls,” Mr. Ngari said.
The Startups who are part of the Women in Tech program competition funded by Standard Chartered Bank and implemented by @iBizAfrica- Strathmore University were selected from a group of 380 companies competing for the top prize.
For the first time since inception of the Standard Chartered Women in Tech program the winners were selected and awarded virtually due to the ongoing pandemic. This year’s top 5 companies are
1. Soul Food– Founded by Chanya Mwanyota, Soul food is a Swahili Restaurant serving Swahili cuisine and Nigeria cuisine which has led to the creation of six virtual restaurants where they are able to provide hassle free, fast and efficient quality diverse meals.
2. Taste Afrique– Founded by Anzazi Kiti and Winnie Chiwai, Taste Afrique is a manufacturing company that distributes and sells natural food seasoning products and mixed spices called Chibundiro.
3. BenaCare– Founded by Naomi Monari, Benacare provides home nursing services to people with life-limiting illnesses across the country.
1. Nature’s Touch– Founded by Diana Ochola and Caroline Ngugi, the two are passionate about adopting natural personal care regimes in their lives. They provide health and wellness information to the public, deliver natural personal care products that are designed for individuals and their families to meet their daily grooming needs.
2. Arbes Biotech– Founded by Rachael Akeyo, the company is an agricultural startup that generates seedlings using culture technology to provide quality seedlings of various plants to clients and partners in East Africa.
Each year the Women in Tech program through @iBizAfrica Center trains more than 40 small and medium businesses leveraging on technology by offering mentorship, advisory, coaching, networking opportunities, access to seed capital and investor forums that help mold their businesses to international standards.
@iLabAfrica- Strathmore University Director Dr. Joseph Sevilla said “We are very pleased to be part of this great initiative that annually seeks to grow Women led businesses in Kenya. This program over the years has shown a tremendous increase of women businesses with great potential to drive the Kenyan economy to greater heights. We believe in building on the skills of small and medium enterprises that foster innovation and drive change, and we’re proud to be part of the positive impact they are making in the business community.” Dr. Sevilla added.
The Standard Chartered Women in Technology Incubator Kenya is Africa’s leading women in tech incubator, aligning with calls for more diversity in technology and for more opportunities for women to develop entrepreneurial and leadership excellence. The program is an initiative of Standard Chartered in partnership with Strathmore University’s @iBizAfrica.
“The unprecedented times we experience now, demonstrate more than ever that technology
is and will continue to be fundamental to a business’ success,” Mr. Ngari noted.
The program combines world class startup support with local and international experience to provide Africa’s most competitive and attractive startup incubation program focusing on immersive learning, mentorship, building and growing Africa’s next iconic startups taking on the continent’s most relevant challenges and opportunities.
The highly interactive event also provided the opportunity to discuss with various investors in the ecosystem the way forward for startups in Africa to thrive. The discussion revolved around the challenges and possible solutions for entrepreneurs to survive and thrive as the effects of the COVID 19 Pandemic continue to unfold. The conversation also forecasted different sectors and opportunities to exploit through innovation and entrepreneurship.
About @iBizAfrica, Strathmore University
@iBizAfrica is the business incubator of Strathmore University, a leading private University in Kenya. The incubator since 2012 provides a nurturing environment that builds on the potential of the youth to develop innovative solutions and businesses that work for the common good in society. @iBizAfrica over the years has provided over 400 startup companies with training, advisory, mentorship, coaching, networking opportunities, access to seed capital and investors.
We prepare startups to be investor-ready and launch into the market through our custom incubation and acceleration programs.
For more information, please visit www.ibizafrica.co.ke.
Follow us on our social media pages @iBizAfrica on Twitter and Facebook
About Standard Chartered
We are a leading international banking group, with around 84,000 employees and a 150-year history in some of the world’s most dynamic markets. We bank the people and companies driving investment, trade and the creation of wealth across Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Our heritage and values are expressed in our brand promise, Here for good.
Standard Chartered PLC is listed on the London and Hong Kong Stock Exchanges as well as the Bombay and National Stock Exchanges in India.
For more information please visit www.sc.com. Explore our insights and comment on our blog, BeyondBorders. Follow Standard Chartered on Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook
@iLabAfrica 