Standard Chartered, in partnership with Falak Investment Hub, announced the launch of the fourth cohort of the Women in Tech Saudi Arabia Accelerator, building on its continued support for women-led, tech-enabled startups in the Kingdom.
The initiative is part of Standard Chartered’s global program, which supports women-led tech startups through tailored training, catalytic funding, and access to world-class networks. Falak Investment Hub will deliver the program locally, leveraging its proven expertise in entrepreneur support and ecosystem development.
Through the initiative, selected startups will have access to up to SR169,000 ($45,000) in equity-free funding from Standard Chartered. Since its launch, the Women in Tech accelerator in Saudi Arabia has supported 26 women-led startups, helping founders strengthen their businesses and scale their technology solutions. Collectively, these startups have generated more than SR82 million in total revenue.
The supported startups have also demonstrated strong post-program performance. Eighty-three percent of startups remain operational today, while 66 percent have successfully secured investment after completing the program, reflecting strong business sustainability and investment readiness. The supported companies have also contributed to the creation of more than 85 jobs within the local innovation ecosystem.
Mazen Bunyan, chief executive and head of coverage, Saudi Arabia, Standard Chartered, said: “The launch of the fourth edition of the Women in Tech program underscores our long-term commitment to advancing women’s leadership across Saudi Arabia’s digital and entrepreneurial landscape. This initiative is designed to accelerate high-potential founders by connecting them with the right capabilities, capital pathways, and strategic networks needed to scale effectively in a competitive market.”
He added: “We continue to see women entrepreneurs play an increasingly influential role in driving innovation, expanding new sectors, and contributing to the Kingdom’s broader economic diversification goals. This also goes with the Saudi Vision 2030 that aims to foster a sustainable, diverse economy by enabling all citizens, including women, to participate fully. With this new cohort, our priority is to further unlock opportunity, strengthen venture readiness, and support the next generation of women leaders shaping Saudi Arabia’s future economy.”
With women entrepreneurs continuing to face systemic barriers to scaling their businesses, the initiative is designed to help women overcome those challenges. Through the accelerator, women founders will benefit from tailored investment-readiness support, grant funding, and mentorship opportunities that will enable their ventures to grow sustainably and create long-lasting community impact.
Adwa Aldakheel, founder of Falak Investment Hub, said: “We are seeing more women building strong startups across Saudi Arabia and the region. The real challenge is helping these businesses move beyond the early stages and grow into sustainable companies. Through Women in Tech, we work with our partners to support founders with the networks and resources they need to grow and create lasting impact. At Falak Investment Hub, we’ve supported 180+ startups and 40,000+ beneficiaries through high-impact programs and growth support, connecting founders to the networks and resources they need.”
Women-startup founders are invited to apply now with applications closing on May 16. Successful applicants will participate in the accelerator program on June 14 this year.
