Three Female-Led Bahraini Startups Win $75,000 at Futuremakers Women in Tech Demo Day
Ashwini Gambo
Futuremakers Women in Tech: Three Female-Led Bahraini Startups Win USD 75,000
Three Bahraini female-led startups have emerged victorious in the latest edition of the Futuremakers Women in Tech programme, securing a combined USD 75,000 in funding during the Demo Day event held last week. The event, jointly organized by Standard Chartered Bahrain and Bahrain FinTech Bay, showcased the innovation and determination of ten female entrepreneurs selected for the programme's sixth cohort.
Dr. Razan Al Jabal from Tell Saleem took home the top prize of $35,000, followed by Lulwa Sowaileh of Wajba, who secured $25,000, and Noor AlDerazi of Tamam, who received $15,000. In addition to the funding, all three winners will undergo a three-month business incubation program to further develop their ventures.
The winning startups were part of the sixth cohort of the Futuremakers Women in Tech initiative, launched in March 2025. Over the course of eight weeks, participants received intensive mentorship, skill-building workshops, and pitch training to sharpen their business strategies and investor readiness. The programme, backed by Tamkeen, the Supreme Council for Women, UNIDO, and Innovate for Bahrain, is part of a broader effort to address the gender gap in technology and entrepreneurship.
Dr. Boutros Klink, CEO of Standard Chartered Bahrain, praised the cohort’s resilience and creativity, noting that the event "is a powerful reminder of the impact women can make in the tech ecosystem." He emphasized the significance of the program’s continuity and growth, highlighting that this is the sixth successful edition since its inception in Bahrain.
Since its launch, the Women in Tech programme has supported 61 startups, providing mentorship and entrepreneurial training, with 22 of them receiving a total of $385,000 in funding. Bader Sater, CEO of Bahrain FinTech Bay, highlighted the diversity of industries represented in the cohort, stating that “Bahraini women are not only capable of innovating across sectors, but are also ready to lead the future of tech-driven entrepreneurship.”
The Demo Day drew attendance from high-level government representatives and industry stakeholders, underlining Bahrain’s commitment to empowering women economically. The judging panel featured key figures including Dr. Boutros Klink (Standard Chartered), Afnan Al Zayani (Supreme Council for Women), Suzy Al Zeerah (Bahrain FinTech Bay), Marwa Aleskafi (Tamkeen), Ameer Abu Bakr (UNIDO ITPO Bahrain), and Nada Abdulla (Standard Chartered Bahrain).
The event served not only as a platform for recognizing innovation but also as a testament to Bahrain’s growing ecosystem for female tech entrepreneurs. As more women in Bahrain step into leadership roles in the startup space, initiatives like Futuremakers continue to play a crucial role in nurturing their success.
