Standard Chartered Saudi Arabia And Falak Investment Hub Announce The Winners Of The Futuremakers Women And TechProgramme In Saudi Arabia

The third edition of the Futuremakers Women in Tech programme in Saudi Arabia has concluded. The programme is an initiative by Standard Chartered, in collaboration with Falak Investment Hub, and supported by the Small and Medium Enterprises General Authority “Monsha’at” and the Center for Digital Entrepreneurship “CODE”. The event celebrated nine innovative female entrepreneurs and awarded $45,000 in equity-free seed capital from Standard Chartered to the three winners.

This year’s winners were selected based on a rigorous evaluation of business models, competitive advantage, scalability potential, team strength, and the potential impact of the funding. The winning teams (Aya) and its co-founder& CEO,MuniraAlkadhi, (Pixconvey) and its founder & CEO, Ebtihal Alotaibi, and (SDM) and its founder & CEO,Professor  Selwa Alhazzaa, each received $15,000 in equity-free seed capital. The startups represent diverse sectors and were chosen by a distinguished judging panel representing the programme partners.

Over eight weeks, participants underwent an intensive programme that included individual mentoring sessions, practical workshops, and investor pitch training, which helped develop their business models and enhance their readiness for growth within the Kingdom’s tech entrepreneurship ecosystem.

Mazen Bunyan, Chief Executive Officer & Head of Banking and Coverage, Standard Chartered Saudi Arabia, said:

“At Standard Chartered, we are committed to launching initiatives and fostering partnerships that create opportunities for talent to thrive and succeed, aligning with the goals of Saudi Vision 2030. We are incredibly proud of the exceptional women graduating from the Futuremakers Women and Tech programme. This cohort, the third of its kind since the programme’s inception here in the Kingdom, has shown remarkable resilience, innovation, and leadership. Today’s demo day is a powerful reminder of the impact women can make in the tech ecosystem. These founders are not just building startups, they are also contributing to the tech business sector.”

Adwa Aldakheel, Founder and CEO of Falak Investment Hub, commented: “The “Th eFuturemakers Women in Tech programme is more than a training journey — it’s a platform where ambition turns into achievement. Each founder in this cohort embodies the spirit of Saudi innovation and the limitless potential of women leading the future of tech.”

The programme’s final day witnessed the presence of several investors, mentors, and representatives of the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the Kingdom, affirming the collective commitment to supporting women-led companies and fostering sustainable growth in the digital economy.

The judging panel included Mazen Bunyan, Chief Executive Officer & Head of Banking and Coverage at Standard Chartered Saudi Arabia, Nada Aljeffri, Chief Risk Officer at Standard Chartered Saudi Arabia, Adwa Aldakheel, Founder and CEO at Falak Investment Hub, Fawaz Altamimi, Director of Social Entrepreneurship at Monsha’at, and Sundes Alzaben, Director of Startups Ecosystem Enablemenat (CODE).

The third batch was launched in May 2025, as part of Standard Chartered’s global “Futuremakers” initiative, which aims to bridge the gender gap in tech entrepreneurship. To date, the Saudi programme has supported 30 startups through mentorship, with 9 receiving a total of $145,000 in equity-free seed capital to expand their projects.