• AccelerateHer is DIFC FinTech Hives programme which empowers young female talent to play a role in technology and innovation.

• 2021 AccelerateHer edition has increased the number of female participants from within financial organisations, already selecting 20 candidates for first cohort, and for the first time, will expand to include a second cohort later in the year.

• Programme provides mentorship, workshops and networking opportunities to the young women selected.

DIFC FinTech Hive declares that the third edition of its popular FinTech Hive AccelerateHer programme will be twice the size size this year, supporting up to 40 female participants in total, compared with 14 last year. AccelerateHer will run in two cohorts through a hybrid programme structure combining both virtual and in-person elements, allowing the programme to be open to global participants who wish to access the wealth of expertise and experience within DIFC for the first time in its history. The first cohort of 20 female participants from financial institutions has already been selected.

DIFC has been dedicated to supporting diversity in the financial services sector since its inception in 2004. The DIFC FinTech Hive first introduced AccelerateHer in 2019 to develop female talent in financial technology and innovation sectors. Until date, the scheme has successfully supported nearly 30 participants with one-to-one mentorship, workshops and networking opportunities. Previous participants came from a range of financial services firms and have used the programme to accelerate their personal development and contribution to their organisations. Through the programme, some participants were able to launch their own female-founded FinTechs.

The present edition is focusing on women across the financial services industry with six months to three years of experience.

DIFCs commitment to fostering a world-class pool of diverse talent is central to our strength, both as a global financial centre and a leading innovation hub. We are proud to bring together a wealth of expertise across our community, forging varied and valuable connections through initiatives such as AccelerateHer in order to fulfil our mission to drive the future of finance. commented Raja Al Mazrouei, Executive Vice President of DIFC FinTech Hive.