Village Capital and Standard Chartered Launch US Women in Tech Accelerator to Empower Women-Led Startups
Village Capital, in collaboration with Standard Chartered US, proudly announces the launch of the US Women in Tech Accelerator—a transformative three-year initiative designed to address systemic inequities in funding and support for women-identifying startup founders.
Running from March to July, the program is part of Futuremakers by Standard Chartered and is funded by the Standard Chartered Foundation. After achieving success in other regions, the program now expands to the United States, empowering women-led, impact-driven, tech-enabled startups to scale solutions, create jobs, and drive economic mobility nationwide.
Despite increased awareness of the funding gap, all-women founding teams have secured an average of just 2.4% of venture capital funding over the last 30 years, limiting opportunities for innovation and equitable growth. The US Women in Tech Accelerator tackles these challenges by unlocking early-stage financial and social capital and equipping women entrepreneurs with the resources, mentorship, and tools needed to scale.
Breaking Barriers through Collaboration
The program prioritizes startups led by women from historically marginalized communities, including BIPOC and LGBTQIA+ entrepreneurs. Village Capital and Standard Chartered will focus on solutions that advance:
- Affordable healthcare and wellness
- High-quality education and professional development
- Financial resilience and generational wealth-building
- Essential services that drive economic mobility for underserved communities
“At Standard Chartered, we believe that equitable access to funding and resources is essential for fostering innovation and driving meaningful impact,” said Sonia Rossetti, Regional Head of Corporate Affairs, Brand & Marketing at Standard Chartered. “The US Women in Tech Accelerator, in partnership with Village Capital, addresses systemic challenges women founders face, helping them scale their ideas, transform communities, and realize their potential.”
Kelly Bryant, US Regional Director at Village Capital, emphasized, “This initiative goes beyond funding; it’s about equipping women leaders with the tools, mentorship, and resources to drive meaningful change. Together, we aim to break down barriers to access and create a more inclusive and equitable innovation ecosystem in the US.”
Applications Now Open
Applications for the inaugural cohort of 10-12 startups are open until January 31, 2025. Full program details and eligibility criteria can be found [here].
Program Highlights
- Investment-readiness training and personalized development plans
- Access to expert mentors, advisors, and industry leaders
- Networking opportunities to strengthen business models and maximize impact
- Virtual workshops to equip founders with tools and connections to scale
At the end of the accelerator, two startups will be selected by their peers to receive $25,000 in grant funding.
All applicants will also gain access to Abaca, Village Capital’s free web app that offers tools like Capital Explorer to make strategic fundraising decisions and assess investment readiness through consistent Venture Investment Levels.
For more details, contact Yireth Villaverde at Village Capital ([email protected]).
The US Women in Tech Accelerator joins a range of Futuremakers programs in the Americas, including partnerships with Upwardly Global, Leadership Enterprise for a Diverse America, and Youth Business International, all of which promote economic inclusion and mobility.
