20 Female Entrepreneurs Graduate from Standard Chartered Botswana's WiT Programme

• Women in Tech Accelerator equipped 20 women entrepreneurs with skills bridging gender disparity in Tech and Business
• The programme awarded $50,000 as start-up funding to six finalists providing access to mentorship, business guidance, and networking platforms

Standard Chartered Botswana’s Women in Tech (WiT) Accelerator Programme has graduated 20 women entrepreneurs, equipping them with skills to bridge gender gap in Tech and Business industry. The initiative is dedicated to drive innovation while promoting and enchasing gender inclusion, fostering a more diverse and competitive workforce.

The programme concluded with a competitive pitch competition, awarding $50,000 to six finalists in seed capital. With access to mentorship, business guidance and networking platforms, all the participants gained the essential tools to sustain and scale their ventures beyond the programme. Executed with Dream Dream Factory Foundation Botswana, the WiT Botswana Accelerator Programme leveraged regional expertise in Southern Africa.

The $15,000 Sustainability and Growth award was presented to Matlhogonolo Seadimo, founder of Mattie’s Success, a Maun-based business transforming recycled plastics into synthetic hair fiber. This recognition celebrates companies that have demonstrated measurable progress in financial performance, workforce expansion and market penetration in the last six months. The Innovation and Technology category recognized two outstanding entrepreneurs with $10,000 each. Keitumetse Ketlhoilwe, founder of Yummy Farms, won the Most Innovative Award, while Lebogang G. Solomon, founder of LGS International, received the Most Tech-Enabled Award for Ikatise, a mobile app designed to support learners in securing a Class B driver’s license.

Ontifile Gaokgorwe, founder of The Bees Hive Academy, received the Best Pitch Award and $5,000 for delivering the most impactful and persuasive business case. Recognized for its social impact, Nthoppa, led by Kealeboga Merafhe Siwawa, earned the $5,000 Pay-it-Forward Award for leveraging data-driven technology top help the underserved communities. Honored for mentoring young female entrepreneurs, her platform impacts by providing services in finance, education and healthcare. Heather Monare, founder of Hatherleigh Co., earned the $5,000 Most Impactful Enterprise Award, for supporting SMEs with their brand visibility and expand through digital marketing.

Highlighting programmes’ significance, Mpho Masupe, CEO of Standard Chartered Botswana, stated, “Women in Tech is sparking a wave of innovation and economic expansion in Botswana’s technology and business ecosystem.”. “You are now part of a powerful global network of women who are driving change, and I have no doubt that each of you will go on to achieve great things,” he said. Mpho reinforced the need of robust infrastructure to drive scalability and resilience for emerging enterprises.