StanChart HK empowers women entrepreneurs with SC WIN challenge

Standard Chartered Hong Kong and female-focused crowdfunding platform LIFTWOMEN have teamed up to launch “SC WIN Now & Next Challenge”, a new initiative under Standard Chartered's Women's International Network this International Women’s Day (IWD).  

As a new initiative under SC WIN, the “SC WIN Now & Next Challenge” targets women entrepreneurs who have successfully established their business models and are now poised for growth and market expansion. The programme is expected to attract over 100 local women entrepreneurs to apply.  

A spokesperson from Standard Chartered told MARKETING-INTERACTIVE that this initiative aligns perfectly with its broader proposition of SC WIN, designed to empower women entrepreneurs in achieving their goals. "We provide not only funding but also expertise and valuable connections to maximize their exposure. Launching on IWD reinforces our commitment to support women and aligns with our company value of lifting participation," the spokesperson added. 

Targeting women-owned small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and categorised as segment-specific marketing, the spokesperson said it is relatively uncommon in Hong Kong. Although it may not have a broad impact on all marketers, focusing on this niche can generate significant opportunities.

The programme will leverage SC WIN’s global network and resources, alongside LiftWomen’s extensive experience and expertise in supporting women entrepreneurs, to offer 10 selected entrepreneurs an eight-week "LiftHER Global Accelerator Programme", where they will gain in-depth understanding of business operations and industry trends to refine their business strategies.

By late august, the finalists will compete in a pitching challenge and five winners will be awarded a total of HK$1 million in grants and professional training to support their business growth. Application starts from today until 24 April 2025.

The launch event of the "SC WIN Now & Next Challenge" brought together prominent women entrepreneurs from the startup and business communities, celebrating the inaugural launch of the programme and learning about Standard Chartered's enhanced support for SMEs which is to strengthen their financial capabilities and develop business skills for expansion. 

According to the research by "Women of Hong Kong", SC WIN's Hong Kong partner, women entrepreneurs generally face limited access to funding channels.  

SC WIN was established to provide comprehensive support to women entrepreneurs through three key pillars including delivering products tailored to various business development stages; creating platforms to connect markets, client communities, suppliers and entrepreneurs across different regions, and assisting SMEs in formulating development and expansion strategies. 

To promote the initiative, the spokesperson said it will be calling applications through digital channel such as advertorial, social post, LinkedIn. It has also invited its banking partners such as Women of Hong Kong to spread the words within their network. 

Mary Huen, CEO, Hong Kong and Greater China & North Asia, Standard Chartered, said, "Standard Chartered Hong Kong is committed to supporting SMEs development. By collaborating with chambers and industry associations, we would help SMEs transform through digitalisation, cross-border expansion, and sustainability initiatives.” 

“To support women entrepreneurs to take their business to the next level, we launched SC WIN in Hong Kong in October 2023, offering a suite of lending solutions and networking events that enable them to connect for better business opportunities. The new addition of ‘SC WIN Now & Next Challenge’ will bring more benefits to the SMEs by providing them with better exposure and tools to strengthen their brand competitiveness and business skills to capture the upcoming growth opportunities which will inject new impetus into Hong Kong’s economic development,” she added. 

Xie Wen, global head of SME Banking, Standard Chartered, said, "Our ambition extends beyond empowering women entrepreneurs—we strive to build a truly inclusive business ecosystem that fosters cross-sector and cross-gender collaboration to drive the overall economy forward. We not only want to support the growth of women entrepreneurs but also build a genuinely inclusive business ecosystem that promotes cross-gender, cross-industry cooperation and resource sharing.” 

“Looking ahead, Standard Chartered will invest more resources with a commitment to providing US$1 billion in financing to women entrepreneurs globally by 2028, helping them to reach new heights in their businesses and contribute to the economic and social development of Hong Kong and beyond,” Wen added.

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