Five Nigerian women entrepreneurs have emerged as winners of the 2026 Standard Chartered Foundation Women in Tech Accelerator in Nigeria, securing a combined US$50,000 in grant funding to expand their technology-driven businesses.
The five founders were announced at the graduation and awards ceremony for Cycle 7 of the programme, held recently at The Wheatbaker Hotel in Ikoyi, Lagos. Each winning venture will receive US$10,000 to support business growth.
According to Vanguard News, the programme brought together 11 women-led, technology-enabled ventures for an intensive accelerator designed around business development, investment readiness, mentorship and networking.
The initiative was delivered by the Standard Chartered Foundation in partnership with Village Capital and the Enterprise Development Centre, Pan-Atlantic University.
Five founders emerge from Cycle 7
The five winners are building businesses across healthcare, artificial intelligence, accessibility, trade and digital education, reflecting the increasingly broad role technology is playing in solving everyday problems in Nigeria and across Africa.
Jennifer Esiaba, founder and CEO of Mariam Grey Pharmacy, emerged with a healthcare solution built around an AI-powered telepharmacy. The platform is designed to improve access to medicines, pharmacist consultations and chronic care support through smartphones, basic phones and USSD. This approach is particularly significant in a country where access to digital services can vary considerably between communities.
Christine Imoukhuede, founder and CEO of Ahavaplan, is using artificial intelligence to address operational challenges within the events industry. Her company provides a CRM platform that helps event planners organise clients, events, communication and business activities from one system.
Toyosi Badejo-Okusanya, founder and CEO of Adaptive Atelier, focuses on digital accessibility. The company combines AI-powered tools, accessibility audits and a marketplace of disabled professionals to help businesses create more inclusive digital experiences.
Fara Popoola, founder and CEO of Proc360, is tackling trust and efficiency in African trade. The platform brings supplier verification, quality control and secure payments together to help small and medium-sized businesses conduct transactions with greater confidence.
Adejoke Haastrup, founder and CEO of Kidsthatcode, completes the winning group with an education technology platform focused on coding and digital skills. The company delivers learning through classes, mentorship, hackathons and practical projects for children and teenagers across Africa.
The full list and details of the Cycle 7 finalists were previously reported by TechCabal, which reported that the 11 founders entered a 12-week accelerator after being selected from an applicant pool.
What the accelerator offers beyond funding
The significance of the programme extends beyond the US$10,000 grants. Participants undergo structured training intended to help founders understand their businesses from the perspective of investors, customers and potential partners.
They receive personalised development support, expert mentorship and opportunities to build relationships with industry leaders. The programme also uses pitch and investment-readiness activities to prepare founders for the realities of raising capital and expanding their operations.
For many early-stage businesses, access to this kind of structured support can be as important as the financial award itself. Turning an idea into a sustainable company often requires a stronger business model, better financial planning, market knowledge and reliable networks.
The organisers say the new graduates will also join a growing global alumni community, creating opportunities for continued peer-to-peer engagement after the formal programme ends.
Village Capital, which works with local partners on the initiative, says the global Women in Tech Accelerator supports impact-creating, tech-enabled businesses led by women across several markets. Its 2026 programme includes Nigeria among 12 participating markets and provides access to training, growth support, peer connections and grant funding.
Backstory: Women in Tech has been running in Nigeria for years
The latest winners are part of a programme that has been developing Nigeria’s women-focused technology entrepreneurship ecosystem for several years.
The Women in Tech initiative was launched in Nigeria in 2019, according to the Standard Chartered Foundation announcement reported by Vanguard. Standard Chartered Nigeria says the programme has directly trained more than 70 women through its incubator cohorts and provided seed funding to 35 women-led businesses.
The 2026 edition marked the seventh Nigerian cycle. Applications opened earlier this year through the Standard Chartered Foundation, Village Capital and Enterprise Development Centre, with the programme targeting women-led, tech-enabled startups capable of creating economic and social impact.
By the time the final 11 founders were announced in July, the cohort included ventures working in healthcare, logistics, financial services, education, accessibility, human resources, events, beauty and recruitment, according to TechCabal.
With the graduation of Cycle 7 and the release of US$50,000 in grants, attention now shifts to what the five winning founders will do with the capital, mentorship and networks gained through the programme. For these businesses, the real test begins after the ceremony: converting support into stronger products, wider market reach, jobs and lasting value for the communities they serve.
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