A decade of partnerships to advance innovation and gender equality
New York, May 10, 2024–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Standard Chartered Americas (the “Bank”) and the Zahn Innovation Center (the “Zahn Center”) at the City College of New York (“CCNY”) are proud to announce the 2024 Women’s Contest We are pleased to announce the winners of the . in Tech (“WiT”) incubator participates in his competition and celebrates his 10th anniversary of partnership. Over the past decade, this collaboration has empowered aspiring entrepreneurs and fostered innovation within local communities.
After a thorough evaluation by a panel of judges comprised of representatives from the Bank, our clients, and the Zahn Center, two student-led venture companies were selected as winners. These students have demonstrated extraordinary vision, creativity, and potential to influence business concepts.
Easy Meets, a marketplace that simplifies hangout and travel planning for groups and individuals, won the top prize of $15,000, and AutoTENS’ proposal to automate back pain relief won $5,000. Both teams are now ready to take the next step towards turning the idea into a successful business.
“We are honored to be recognized for our innovative work,” said Maaw Alzandani of Easy Meats. “We have enjoyed our time at the Zahn Center. This experience has not only validated our efforts, but has also provided us with valuable guidance, support, opportunities, and resources. Zahn Center Staff I am deeply grateful to Standard Chartered and look forward to using this experience to create even more positive change. ”
This year’s competition not only commemorates 10 years of fostering student innovation, economic empowerment and entrepreneurship, but also highlights the program’s impressive growth and achievements over the years in achieving gender equality.
Patricia Fuster, Standard Chartered’s Chief Information Officer for Europe and the Americas and Chair of the Americas Diversity and Inclusion Council, said: “We are thrilled to celebrate the achievements of Easy Meets and AutoTENS and to mark our 10th anniversary of collaboration with the Zahn Center. I’m very happy,” he said. “Over the past 10 years, our partnership with the Zahn Center has enabled more than 1,300 students to pursue their entrepreneurial ambitions. As we celebrate this milestone, we are committed to building innovation and economic growth in our communities. We remain committed to our shared mission of promoting
Kesia Hudson, Managing Director of the Standard Chartered Women in Technology Program at the Zahn Innovation Center, echoed similar sentiments, saying: “The WiT Incubator Competition’s long-standing partnership with Standard Chartered is a great opportunity for students to We are excited about these ideas and will continue to support the next generation of business leaders through collaborative efforts. ”
The WiT Incubator is one of several programs under the Futuremakers initiative in the Americas. Other programs include partnerships with Upwardly Global, Leadership Enterprise for a Diverse America, and Youth Business International. All of this aims to empower the next generation by promoting economic inclusion.
About Zahn Innovation Center’s Women in Tech Incubator
Established in October 2014, the Standard Chartered Women in Tech Incubator program is an initiative aimed at supporting greater diversity in gender representation in technology. This incubator program is a partnership with the City University of New York’s Zahn Innovation Center to provide early-stage, women-led startups with the support, guidance, and resources they need to grow into successful businesses. This partnership has various levels of engagement and supports women’s entrepreneurship across campus through:
-
A mentorship network that includes both bank employees and local leaders in technology and government.
-
Speaker series on women with an entrepreneurial spirit
-
Newly renovated space housing the ‘Standard Chartered Technology Incubator for Women Entrepreneurs’ resource center
-
Entrepreneurship courses and materials to address entrepreneurship challenges
About City University of New York
Since 1847, the City University of New York has provided generations of New Yorkers with a high-quality, affordable education in a variety of fields. CCNY values its position at the forefront of social change. Ranked No. 1 in overall mobility index among 369 selective public universities in the United States by Harvard University-based Opportunity Insights. This metric reflects both access and achievement, and represents the likelihood that a CCNY student will move up two or more income quintiles. The education research organization Degree Choices ranks CCNY No. 1 among universities nationwide for economic return on investment. Additionally, the Center for World University Rankings ranks CCNY in the top 1.8% of universities worldwide in terms of academic excellence. Labor analysis firm Emsi (now Lightcast) estimates CCNY’s annual economic impact on the local economy (five boroughs and five contiguous counties) at $1.9 billion, with a “dollar-for-dollar” impact on students, taxpayers, and society. Quantifying return on investment. At City College, more than 15,000 students earn undergraduate and graduate degrees across her eight schools and divisions, supported by heavily funded research, creativity and scholarship. This year, CCNY launched its largest fundraising campaign to date. The campaign, titled “Doing Remarkable Things Together,” aims to increase the university’s foundation’s total assets to more than $1 billion in support of the university’s mission. CCNY is as diverse, dynamic and forward-thinking as New York City itself. View CCNY Media Kit.
About Standard Chartered
We are a leading international banking group with a presence in 53 of the world’s most dynamic markets and serving customers in a further 64 locations. Our purpose is to promote commerce and prosperity through our unique diversity, and our heritage and values are expressed in our brand. Promise me, I’ll be here forever.
Our history in the United States dates back to 1902, and we currently have eight locations throughout the Americas. Our Americas franchise focuses on financial institutions and select businesses, and plays a key role in facilitating trade and investment flows between the Americas and Asia, Africa, the UK, Europe and the Middle East. I am.
Standard Chartered PLC is listed on the London and Hong Kong stock exchanges.
For more articles and expert opinions, visit Insights on sc.com.Follow Standard Chartered XLinkedIn, Instagram, Facebook.
About Standard Chartered Futuremakers
Futuremakers by Standard Chartered (Futuremakers) is Standard Chartered Bank’s global youth economic empowerment initiative that tackles inequality and promotes greater economic inclusion in group markets. Futuremakers supports disadvantaged young people, especially women and people with disabilities, to learn, earn and grow. Futuremakers aims to create and retain 140,000 jobs by 2030 by empowering young entrepreneurs and job seekers to gain economic empowerment and participation. www.sc.com/futuremakers
View source version on businesswire.com. https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20240510262696/ja/
contact address
Sammy He
standard chartered americas
Sammi.he@sc.com
Jay Mwamba
City University of New York
jmwamba@ccny.cuny.edu
