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Unleash your creativity, be inspired & launch your own digital solution with #SCWomenInTech Incubation program & virtual challenge!
The world is currently facing unprecedented challenges as a result of COVID-19. Therefore, innovation and creativity are needed more than ever.
This program invites female entrepreneurs within the Kingdom of Bahrain to share their business ideas with the aim of establishing an online presence.
To enter the SC women in tech incubation program, you have to apply in either of these categories:
-
Existing Startups: If you have an existing startup, business plan or idea, you can submit as per the instructions below.
-
Individuals: Enter the 54 hour challenge, where you can work in teams and together develop innovative business ideas.
Top 10 winning teams will then be selected to go through an 8-week training program as part of the SC Women in tech incubation program. This will be followed by a pitch of each of the 10 ideas at the final week. The top 5 compelling ideas will receive prize money of USD 10,000/- each and a 3-month residency at Bahrain FinTech Bay as an incentive to pursue and accelerate their solutions.
Although this is aimed at female-led enterprises, men can also enter and apply to support with design and development. In the absence of a group, all you need to do is submit the form, and we will connect you with other team members to form a group.
The challenge is aimed at supporting sustainable, technological, and FinTech solutions in the following categories:
-
Got an idea?
Our tools and resources will help you map out your idea.
-
Already formed a company?
We'll connect you to mentors and industry experts who will help you overcome your obstacles and look into growing and scaling your startup.
-
Interested in entrepreneurship?
Register, participate, meet new people, and learn new skills online!
Who can join?
Male and Female aspiring entrepreneurs
Above 18 years old
Bahraini citizen or resident
No prior experience required
No technical experience required
Timeline
June 1
July 9 - 11
July 12
July 13
September 13
8-week training in #SCWomenInTech Incubator
Applications
Open (Kickoff)
Virtual Challenge
Virtual Pitch &
Team Selection
Digital Incubation
Demo Day
During these 3 days, founders will be provided with mentorship to help direct the development of their ideas. The top 10 winning teams will later be selected to progress to go through the 8-week training in the Women in Tech Incubator program, followed by pitching at the final week's Demo Day.
#SCWomenInTech Virtual Challenge Agenda
Eligibility Criteria
- Age 18+
-
Bahraini citizen or resident -
No prior experience required -
Although this is aimed at female-led enterprises, men and women can equally apply. In the absence of a group, all you need to do is submit the form, and we will connect you with other team members to form a group.
Can I pitch my existing startup?
Yes, you can! However, your startup has to have at least 1 female founder.
Can I still join even if I don't have a team?
Ofcourse! In the absence of a group, all you need to do is submit the form, and we will connect you with other team members to form a group.
What resources do I need to participate in the virtual challenge?
- A laptop with functional video (webcam), and audio (mic) settings
-
High-speed internet -
A notebook/pen (optional) if you would like to write down your ideas, meeting minutes, etc.
What should the theme of my idea be for the virtual challenge/program?
Your ideas should be aimed at supporting sustainable technology solutions in the following key areas:
-
Business Continuity -
Health -
Community
Will there be any mentors?
Yes! Our goal is to connect you with mentors and industry experts of various fields who will help guide you through sharing knowledge and best practices.
Standard Chartered Women In Tech Incubator past winners
You can read all about the journey of the past winners of the Standard Chartered Women In Tech Incubator here.
Program process
Stage 1: (June)
-
Apply to the virtual challenge (Registration opens on June 2, 2020. To apply, click here) -
University roadshow (June 7 - 9) -
Short-listing for initial pitches on Day 1
-
Day 1 (July 9) - 09:00 am - 05:00 pm -
Welcome from organizers & sponsors -
Discussing key guidelines and format of virtual challenge -
Initial Pitches (optional) -
Voting Process -
Form Groups -
Start working
-
-
Day 2 (July 10) - 09:00 am - 05:00 pm -
Mentor/Industry experts webinar sessions -
On-call organizers -
Working on pitch-decks
-
-
Day 3 (July 11) - 09:00 am - 05:00 pm -
Mentor/Industry experts webinar sessions -
How-to-pitch session -
Finalize your pitch-decks
-
-
Pitch Finale (July 12) - 5 minutes to pitch + 3 minutes Q&A (Top 10 winners announced to proceed to Incubator stage)
-
Program agenda: TBA -
Demo Day (Aug 25) - The top 5 compelling ideas will receive a seed grant of USD 10,000 and a 3-month residency at Bahrain FinTech Bay as an incentive to pursue and accelerate their solutions.
What is the judging criteria?
Our judging criteria covers 3 categories i.e. validation, execution and design, and business model.
-
Did your team get out and talk to customers? -
Are you actually solving a problem? -
Have you identified a specific target market?
-
Do you have a mvp (minimum viable product) or prototype? -
How functional is your technical demo? -
Design matters! Is your product easy to use?
-
How do you plan on making this a successful business? -
Are you solving a problem? (value proposition) -
Is your idea unique?
Frequently Asked Questions
Eligibility Criteria
- Age 18+
-
Bahraini citizen or resident -
No prior experience required -
Although this is aimed at female-led enterprises, men and women can equally apply. In the absence of a group, all you need to do is submit the form, and we will connect you with other team members to form a group.
Can I pitch my existing startup?
Yes, you can! However, your startup has to have at least 1 female founder.
Can I still join even if I don't have a team?
Ofcourse! In the absence of a group, all you need to do is submit the form, and we will connect you with other team members to form a group.
What resources do I need to participate in the virtual challenge?
- A laptop with functional video (webcam), and audio (mic) settings
-
High-speed internet -
A notebook/pen (optional) if you would like to write down your ideas, meeting minutes, etc.
What should the theme of my idea be for the virtual challenge/program?
Your ideas should be aimed at supporting sustainable technology solutions in the following key areas:
-
Business Continuity -
Health -
Community
Will there be any mentors?
Yes! Our goal is to connect you with mentors and industry experts of various fields who will help guide you through sharing knowledge and best practices.
Standard Chartered Women In Tech Incubator past winners
You can read all about the journey of the past winners of the Standard Chartered Women In Tech Incubator here.
Program process
Stage 1: (June)
-
Apply to the virtual challenge (Registration opens on June 2, 2020. To apply, click here) -
University roadshow (June 7 - 9) -
Short-listing for initial pitches on Day 1
-
Day 1 (July 9) - 09:00 am - 05:00 pm -
Welcome from organizers & sponsors -
Discussing key guidelines and format of virtual challenge -
Initial Pitches (optional) -
Voting Process -
Form Groups -
Start working
-
-
Day 2 (July 10) - 09:00 am - 05:00 pm -
Mentor/Industry experts webinar sessions -
On-call organizers -
Working on pitch-decks
-
-
Day 3 (July 11) - 09:00 am - 05:00 pm -
Mentor/Industry experts webinar sessions -
How-to-pitch session -
Finalize your pitch-decks
-
-
Pitch Finale (July 12) - 5 minutes to pitch + 3 minutes Q&A (Top 10 winners announced to proceed to Incubator stage)
-
Program agenda: TBA -
Demo Day (Aug 25) - The top 5 compelling ideas will receive a seed grant of USD 10,000 and a 3-month residency at Bahrain FinTech Bay as an incentive to pursue and accelerate their solutions.
What is the judging criteria?
Our judging criteria covers 3 categories i.e. validation, execution and design, and business model.
-
Did your team get out and talk to customers? -
Are you actually solving a problem? -
Have you identified a specific target market?
-
Do you have a mvp (minimum viable product) or prototype? -
How functional is your technical demo? -
Design matters! Is your product easy to use?
-
How do you plan on making this a successful business? -
Are you solving a problem? (value proposition) -
Is your idea unique?
Have any questions? Get in touch with us.