Deadline: 06-Jun-2026
The Women in Tech Bahrain, 7th edition is an entrepreneurship support programme designed to help women-led businesses in Bahrain grow, scale, and strengthen their presence within the entrepreneurial ecosystem. The programme provides funding opportunities, mentorship, business development support, and access to global networks for innovative ventures that use technology to address social, economic, or environmental challenges.
Supported by Standard Chartered Bank, the initiative aims to empower women entrepreneurs by equipping them with the resources, expertise, and connections needed to accelerate business growth and create sustainable impact.
About the Women in Tech Bahrain Programme
Women in Tech Bahrain is focused on supporting women entrepreneurs who are building technology-based or technology-enabled businesses. The programme seeks to strengthen female participation in entrepreneurship while fostering innovation that contributes to sustainable development.
Through a combination of funding, mentoring, workshops, and networking opportunities, participants receive support to refine their business models, expand their operations, and prepare for long-term growth.
The programme particularly encourages solutions that address challenges aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Programme Objectives
The Women in Tech Bahrain programme aims to:
- Support women-led businesses in scaling their operations
- Strengthen participation of women within the entrepreneurial ecosystem
- Promote innovation and technology-driven entrepreneurship
- Provide access to expert mentorship and business guidance
- Connect entrepreneurs with valuable networks and opportunities
- Unlock funding for high-potential ventures
- Encourage solutions that create social, economic, or environmental impact
The programme is designed to help founders move beyond the early stages of business development and position their ventures for sustainable growth.
Funding Support
Selected participants may receive:
- Equity-free funding of up to USD 35,000
- Financial support from Standard Chartered Bank
- Resources to accelerate business growth and expansion
The funding is intended to help entrepreneurs strengthen operations, develop products and services, and pursue growth opportunities without giving up ownership in their businesses.
Additional Benefits
Beyond funding, participants gain access to a range of business development resources and support services.
Key benefits include:
- Access to Standard Chartered’s global networks
- Expert mentorship from experienced professionals
- Tailored workshops focused on business growth
- Guidance on scaling and expansion strategies
- Support in business planning and execution
- Access to industry knowledge and entrepreneurial expertise
- Opportunities to strengthen visibility within the start-up ecosystem
The programme combines financial and non-financial support to help businesses scale with greater confidence and readiness.
Focus Areas
The programme supports businesses that use technology as a core part of their operations or solutions.
Eligible ventures should be:
- Technology-based businesses
- Technology-enabled businesses
- Innovation-driven enterprises
- Ventures addressing real-world challenges
Businesses are expected to contribute toward solving:
- Social challenges
- Economic challenges
- Environmental challenges
Solutions should demonstrate alignment with one or more of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Eligibility Criteria
Applicants must meet the following requirements:
- Be a Bahraini citizen or resident
- Be between 18 and 35 years old
- Have at least one woman founder or co-founder
- Operate a business headquartered in Bahrain
- Have a business that is actively operating in Bahrain
- Be seeking to grow or scale the business
- Operate a technology-based or technology-enabled venture
- Address a social, economic, or environmental challenge aligned with the SDGs
Applicants who meet these requirements can apply to benefit from the programme’s funding and support opportunities.
Who Should Apply?
The programme is particularly suitable for:
- Women entrepreneurs
- Female founders and co-founders
- Technology start-ups
- Innovation-driven businesses
- Social enterprises
- Impact-focused ventures
- Early-stage and growth-stage businesses
- Entrepreneurs seeking mentorship and funding
It is designed for businesses that have growth ambitions and are looking for strategic support to expand their impact.
Why the Programme Matters
Women entrepreneurs often face challenges related to funding access, networking opportunities, mentorship, and business growth support. Women in Tech Bahrain seeks to address these barriers by creating a dedicated platform that supports female-led innovation and entrepreneurship.
The programme helps participants:
- Access capital without giving up equity
- Build valuable professional networks
- Strengthen business and leadership skills
- Receive expert guidance from mentors
- Improve growth and scaling capabilities
- Increase visibility within the entrepreneurial ecosystem
- Develop solutions that contribute to sustainable development
By supporting women-led businesses, the initiative contributes to a more inclusive and innovative entrepreneurial landscape in Bahrain.
Programme Support Areas
Participants can receive guidance across a variety of business functions, including:
- Business strategy
- Growth planning
- Market expansion
- Innovation management
- Digital transformation
- Technology development
- Entrepreneurship and leadership
- Scaling and operational growth
This holistic approach helps founders address both strategic and practical business challenges.
Frequently Asked Questions
- What is Women in Tech Bahrain?
It is a programme that supports women-led businesses in Bahrain through funding, mentorship, networking, and business development support. - How much funding is available?
Selected participants may receive equity-free funding of up to USD 35,000. - Who can apply?
Bahraini citizens or residents aged 18–35 who have at least one woman founder or co-founder and operate an eligible business in Bahrain. - Do businesses need to be technology-focused?
Yes. Businesses must be technology-based or technology-enabled. - What types of challenges should businesses address?
Ventures should address social, economic, or environmental challenges aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). - Where must the business be located?
The business must be headquartered and operating in Bahrain. - What additional benefits are offered besides funding?
Participants gain access to mentorship, tailored workshops, expert guidance, and Standard Chartered’s global networks.
Conclusion
The Women in Tech Bahrain 2026 programme provides women entrepreneurs with an opportunity to access funding, mentorship, and strategic business support to accelerate growth and scale innovative ventures. With equity-free funding of up to USD 35,000, expert-led workshops, and access to global networks, the programme helps women-led businesses strengthen their impact while addressing important social, economic, and environmental challenges aligned with the Sustainable Development Goals.
For more information, visit Innovate for Bahrain.