Standard Chartered Women in Tech Zambia Awards Mark Five Years of Empowering Women Entrepreneurs
The fifth edition of the Standard Chartered Women in Tech (WiT) Zambia Awards celebrated five years of transforming women-led businesses through technology, innovation, and inclusive growth. The event, held at Standard Chartered Bank’s Head Office in Lusaka, recognised five exceptional entrepreneurs, each awarded USD 10,000 in seed funding to scale their ventures.
The ceremony was graced by Honourable Elias Mubanga, Minister of Small and Medium Enterprise Development, and attended by leaders from Standard Chartered Bank Zambia, BongoHive, Village Capital, and members of Zambia’s innovation ecosystem.
In his keynote address, Hon. Eng. Elias Mubanga, MP, praised Standard Chartered Bank for its long-term investment in women entrepreneurs, describing the programme as exemplary in driving digital adoption and inclusive business growth.
“Standard Chartered’s annual investment of ZMW 3.6 million in the Women in Tech programme demonstrates corporate social responsibility at its finest,” he said. “By providing women entrepreneurs with access to finance, training, and technology, the Bank and its partners are not only empowering individuals but also strengthening Zambia’s economy and inspiring national transformation.”
He called on other corporate organisations to emulate Standard Chartered’s model of supporting women-led MSMEs, reaffirming the government’s commitment to fostering an enabling environment for entrepreneurship and innovation.
Mr Sonny Zulu, Chief Executive Officer of Standard Chartered Bank Zambia, highlighted the Bank’s 120-year legacy of innovation and commitment to inclusive growth.
“Empowering women isn’t just a moral imperative—it’s an economic necessity,” he said. “Through Women in Tech, we have trained 58 women, invested over USD 750,000, and awarded USD 210,000 in prize money to 21 winners who are transforming their communities.”
Mr Zulu further announced an additional USD 500,000 commitment to extend the programme for a further three years, underlining Women in Tech as a cornerstone of Standard Chartered’s global Futuremakers initiative, which promotes youth employability, entrepreneurship, and economic inclusion.
“We are not just writing cheques—we are rewriting futures,” he added. “Our winners span industries from agritech and education to finance and e-commerce, proving that innovation knows no boundaries.”
Representing BongoHive, Executive Director Lukonga Lindunda celebrated the collaborative spirit and tangible impact of the Women in Tech partnership, describing it as a “movement” rather than a mere programme.
“Seventy per cent of the startups we support at BongoHive are led by women,” he said. “This is not just a statistic—it’s a statement of intent and a vision for Zambia’s economic future.”
He noted that the initiative has helped women-led startups raise over USD 1.5 million in additional capital, expand into regional markets, and contribute to job creation and community development.
“Each mentorship hour, each dollar invested, and each partnership forged through this programme creates ripples of empowerment,” Lindunda added. “Together, we are redefining who gets to lead and how Zambia innovates.”
This year’s Top 5 Women in Tech Zambia Winners are:
- Kapampa Mwape – Kalanda Publishing House
- Tsitsi Zulu – Goldleaf Investment Limited
- Zama Bbuku – Cherry-Pick Limited
- Susan Chishimba – Corelink Consulting Limited
- Niza Aritha Zulu – Bio Breen Technology
Each winner will receive mentorship, technical support, and USD 10,000 in seed funding to further scale their businesses and expand their impact within Zambia and beyond.
Launched in 2019, the Standard Chartered Women in Tech Zambia programme is implemented in partnership with BongoHive, Zambia’s leading innovation and technology hub, and supported by Village Capital. The programme provides training, mentorship, and seed funding to women-led technology startups, helping them build sustainable, investment-ready businesses.
Over five years, the initiative has supported more than 50 women entrepreneurs, catalysed over ZMW 18 million in funding, and continues to champion gender equity and innovation in Zambia’s digital economy.
