Popped Up!, an app offering live updates and analytics for pop-up events, was named the grand prize winner of the 2026 Women in Tech Incubator Competition presented by Standard Chartered Americas and The City College of New York’s Zahn Innovation Center, according to a May 12 announcement. Now in its twelfth year, this program supports early-stage founders across the City University of New York system as they refine business models and build professional networks.
The competition is significant because it aims to increase gender diversity within technology startups by providing resources and mentorship for women-led ventures. Participants worked over several months with Standard Chartered employee mentors to develop their go-to-market strategies.
Mandy DeFilippo, CEO for US & Americas and EMEA at Standard Chartered, said: “Through our longstanding partnership with the Zahn Innovation Center at The City College of New York, we are proud to support and recognize New York’s next generation of young entrepreneurs powered by leadership, vision, initiative, and hard work — the same values that guide us every day at Standard Chartered. The 2026 cohort has demonstrated incredible ingenuity, and we are delighted to honor this year’s winners as they move from the incubator stage to real-world impact.”
Popped Up! team members My Anh Phan (a Baruch College sophomore) and Madina Monowara (a Hunter College alumna) were recognized for their disciplined approach to improving operational visibility for event organizers. Their app received $15,000 in seed funding. “We are honored to be named the winner of this year’s Women in Tech Incubator Competition,” said Phan. “This experience has provided us with invaluable mentorship and resources to refine our vision. With this support, we are excited to accelerate our growth and bring our solution to a broader audience.”
Second place went to PlantPulse—a plant care kit developed by Jessica Gomez Parral—which received $5,000. Kesia Hudson, Managing Director of the Zahn Center said: “The caliber of innovation we’ve seen this year is truly inspiring. These entrepreneurs are not just building businesses; they are building the future. Our collaboration with Standard Chartered ensures that talented women have the platform they deserve to lead, disrupt, and succeed.”
A new addition was the Standard Chartered Youth Impact Competition recognizing student-led ventures making positive impacts across education, workforce development or health sectors through a live pitch event awarding seed funding.
The Women in Tech Incubator program is part of broader efforts led by Standard Chartered Foundation programs in the Americas aimed at promoting economic inclusion among under-served youth.
