FIVE WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS MINT STANCHARD AWARD

By BUUMBA CHIMBULU FIVE Zambian women entrepreneurs have been awared funding of US$10,000 each under an incubator programme sponsored by Standard Chartered Bank Zambia meant to grow businesses in technology. The companies which have won are Sukie Wellness, Emote Projects, Learner24, Economic Recovery Initiatives and Kunowa Essential The programme which is being implemented by BongoHive, a technology and innovation hub, has been running for the last three months. Standard Chartered Bank Zambia has committed US$50,000 of seed funding for Zambian entrepreneurs who deal with technology. This is under a programme launched in November last year called ‘SC Women in Tech (WiT) which will support Zambian women entrepreneurs to grow their businesses by harnessing the power of technology. Standard Chartered Bank Zambia was by launching this programme responding to the call for the much-needed support for small and medium enterprises who are now increasingly playing a critical role in growing the country’s economy. This is according to the Bank’s Chief Executive Officer, Herman Kasekende, when announcing the winners yesterday. Mr Kasekende said the programme was one innovative way for the bank to empower women led small businesses to harness technology and help them scale-up their business by providing support, mentorship and access to resources such as funding and banking products and services.