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Empowering Change: Standard Chartered Women in Entrepreneurship Award Celebrates 3rd Edition in Taipei
Standard Chartered Bank marked the third edition of the Women in Entrepreneurship Award on October 2 in Taipei, an initiative held in partnership with the Garden of Hope Foundation and Impact Hub Taipei. Part of the bank’s global Futuremakers program, the award aims to strengthen the role of women-led micro-enterprises by providing not only financial resources but also mentorship and professional guidance.
This year’s program attracted more than 100 applications, with 30 businesses selected in the first round. Through bootcamps, training courses, and one-on-one mentoring, ten finalists advanced to the public pitch and award ceremony. For the first time, “accelerating an inclusive economy” was added as a judging criterion, encouraging teams to consider how to create opportunities for women and disadvantaged groups. The new approach also reflects UN Women’s 2025 theme, For ALL Women and Girls: Rights. Equality. Empowerment, underlining Taiwan’s commitment to global gender equity through local entrepreneurship.
Recognizing This Year’s Leading Entrepreneurs
The first prize of NTD 600,000 (≈ USD 18,700) went to WoomanPower Academy, represented by Sherry Hsieh, CEO. The company connects 20,000 members nationwide through online and offline experiences that help women balance multiple roles and build collective impact. Accepting the award, Hsieh said that “women’s power is not an abstract concept or an adjective, it is something real and tangible,” adding that her team has worked hard to make that concept “a living reality.”
Chai Zi Information Consulting, represented by Fu Han Hui, General Manager, received second place and NTD 400,000 (≈ USD 12,500) for its work in system integration and cloud-based healthcare solutions, including customized reporting platforms for dental clinics. Fu expressed gratitude for the network of support that made their success possible, saying that “everyone who helped us gave us the ability to help others in turn.”
The third prize, NTD 300,000 (≈ USD 9,400), went to Re Life, represented by Chien-Ching Tsai, COO. The company has supported more than 1,000 households through coaching-based organizing services, turning decluttering into a form of life education and helping families regain balance in a world shaped by overconsumption. Tsai reflected on the growth that came through mentorship: “At first we struggled to define our business model, but through the mentors’ guidance, everything became clearer. This experience has been invaluable.”
The seven other finalists each received NTD 100,000 (≈ USD 3,100), acknowledging their entrepreneurial potential and contribution to inclusive growth.
Reflections on Empowerment and Inclusive Growth
Commenting on the finalists, Toak Cheng Toh, Chief Financial Officer of Standard Chartered Taiwan emphasized the growing influence of women entrepreneurs in Taiwan’s economy. “Women entrepreneurs are becoming an increasingly important force in driving economic growth,” she said. “They actively embrace social responsibility and aim for sustainable development, achieving both economic and social impact. Diversity and inclusion are the cornerstones of success.” She added that through the award, Standard Chartered continues to provide funding, training, and mentorship to help women realize their business goals, noting that “today’s participants inspired others with their stories and showed us the future’s possibilities.”
Over the past three years, the Women in Entrepreneurship Award has supported more than 100 women entrepreneurs and recognized 30 winners. With a prize pool raised to NTD 2 million (≈ USD 62,500) in 2025, and each finalist paired with a Standard Chartered volunteer mentor, the program has become more than a competition—it is a growing community of women driving change.
As this year’s edition concluded, one message stood out: women entrepreneurs in Taiwan are not only building businesses but also reshaping the future of inclusive growth and inspiring the next generation to do the same.
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