EdTechReview.in is excited to announce the launch of the Womenpreneur for Bharat 1.0 program, a startup program in association with Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) and supported by Aditya Birla Capital Foundation. This initiative was announced on 24th November 2023 at the Dorjee Khandu State Convention Centre in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh.
The Womenpreneur for Bharat 1.0 is a program organized by the BITS Pilani’s technology business incubator PIEDS (Pilani Innovation and Entrepreneurship Development Society). Its main goal is to provide funding and incubation support to female entrepreneurs working in/from Tier 2/3/4 cities in Northeast, Rajasthan, Haryana, and J&K. The program is open to both for-profit and non-profit women-led startups that work across UN-SDG areas and address business or societal challenges in those areas.
The program provides eligible startups with funding of up to Rs. 10 lakhs and extended incubation support from PIEDS. This includes one-on-one mentoring, market access support, and opportunities to raise future investments.
Aditya Birla Capital Foundation (ABCF) is the governing body that determines the strategic direction of all Aditya Birla Capital development projects. Mrs Rajashree Birla serves as the foundation’s mentor, and its directors include Mrs Vishakha Mulye, Dr Pragnya Ram, and Mr Subhro Bhaduri. ABCF is dedicated to advancing programmes that promote inclusive growth and development of society’s underserved sections.
Commenting on the announcement, the Director of Aditya Birla Capital Foundation and CEO of Aditya Birla Capital Limited, Vishakha Mulye, said: “We are committed to creating equitable, inclusive, and long-term social and economic growth for the country. Through ‘Womenpreneurs for Bharat 1.0’, we aim to provide a platform to nurture the development of women entrepreneurs in the nation, who have the potential to impact a large number of underserved Indians through innovative solutions.”
Prof. V. Ramgopal Rao, Vice-Chancellor, BITS Pilani, stated: “India’s diversity across its length and breadth requires localized solutions from local entrepreneurs. Women innovators, especially from Northeastern states, will likely lead the next wave of innovations in solving their region’s unique problems. We are happy to partner with the Women Entrepreneurship Platform and Aditya Birla Capital Foundation to help bring some of these innovations to the fore and help them scale.”
The Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP), now operating as a public-private partnership, is a one-stop hub for women entrepreneurs that includes a SmartMatch feature for government schemes, incubators, accelerators, and private sector initiatives, a community page, and a mentorship module. Anna Roy, Mission Director of Women Entrepreneurship Platform, responded to the initiative, saying: “The project embodies a strategic approach to bolster women’s entrepreneurship in the tech4good sector, which has significant market and impact potential, aligning with national goals of gender equality, women-led development, and digital inclusion. Women entrepreneurs leading innovations in critical development areas with a tech-led approach can significantly benefit business and society.”
As per estimates, accelerating women’s entrepreneurship could create more than 30 million women-owned enterprises, potentially creating 150 to 170 million jobs. This Womenpreneur for Bharat 1.0 program is a great opportunity for women entrepreneurs to explore their ideas and develop their businesses. Interested innovators can apply for the programme on the Womenpreneur for Bharat 1.0 website.
