IIM Calcutta Innovation Park and JSLPS Launch Jharkhand Incubator to Empower Rural Women Entrepreneurs

• Three-year initiative will identify and support high-potential women entrepreneurs across Jharkhand’s 24 districts and 264 blocks

IIM Calcutta Innovation Park (IIMCIP), in partnership with the Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society (JSLPS), has commenced the on-ground implementation of the Jharkhand Incubator Programme following a state-level launch and orientation programme held in Ranchi.

Approved by the Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), Government of India, the programme is being implemented by IIMCIP with support from JSLPS. The initiative aims to accelerate grassroots economic transformation by strengthening entrepreneurship among rural women associated with Self-Help Groups (SHGs) through a structured pathway that enables them to transition from livelihood-based activities to scalable enterprises.

The programme was launched in the presence of Smt. Dipika Pandey Singh, Hon’ble Minister for Rural Development, Government of Jharkhand, along with Shri. Manoj Kumar, IAS, Secretary, Department of Rural Development, Government of Jharkhand; Smt. Garima Singh, IAS, Managing Director, Jharcraft; Shri Ananya Mittal, IAS, Chief Executive Officer, Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society, with senior representatives from IIMCIP, JSLPS and the wider entrepreneurship and development ecosystem.

Commenting on the launch, Ajay Jain, Chairman, IIM Calcutta Innovation Park Board, said, "Women are building enterprises with ambition and resilience across rural India. Their success has the potential to transform not only household incomes but also trigger local economies. They are also the change agents of our society, breaking generational patterns and leading the way for future entrepreneurs. IIMCIP partnership with the Jharkhand Incubator Programme to equip eligible women entrepreneurs with the knowledge, skills and customized guidance is another step in our commitment to drive inclusive economic growth.”

Shri. Ananya Mittal, IAS, Chief Executive Officer, JSLPS said, "The Jharkhand Incubator Programme reflects our commitment to advancing rural entrepreneurship by combining JSLPS's deep community presence with IIM Calcutta Innovation Park's incubation expertise. Together, we aim to identify women entrepreneurs across the state and connect them with the right resources and opportunities to grow their enterprises. We also see this initiative as an opportunity to enhance the capacities of our field teams, creating a stronger ecosystem to support women entrepreneurs over the long term."

The two-day programme included expert-led discussions on enterprise development, innovation, digital inclusion and market access for rural women-led businesses. Sessions were led by experts from Atal Innovation Mission, Digital Empowerment Foundation and IIM Calcutta, covering topics such as AI-driven solutions for rural women entrepreneurs, branding, digital empowerment and innovation-led enterprise development.

An orientation session was also held for JSLPS district and block teams, briefing them on the programme delivery and their role in identifying women entrepreneurs. The session was attended by 118 participants, including District Programme Managers (DPMs), District Managers - Enterprise Promotion (DM-EPs), Block Programme Officers - Enterprise Promotion (BPO-EPs), and Young Professionals - Non-Farm Livelihood (YP-NFLs). It also included hands-on training on the programme application process to support effective implementation across the state.

During this three-year initiative, women entrepreneurs from Sakhi Mandals across Jharkhand’s 24 districts and 264 blocks will be assessed, with the top 500 selected for advanced training, mentoring, and incubation. The programme will also strengthen the capacity of JSLPS officials and community resource persons to mentor and guide rural women-led enterprises. 

From Left-right – 1. Name - Smt. Garima Singh, IAS, Managing Director, Jharcraft 2. Name - Shri. Manoj Kumar, IAS, Secretary, Department of Rural Development, Government of Jharkhand 3. Name - Smt. Dipika Pandey Singh, Hon’ble Minister for Rural Development, Government of Jharkhand 4. Name - Shri Ananya Mittal, IAS, Chief Executive Officer, Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society 5. Name - Shri. Himanshu Joshi, Program Director, Atal Innovation Mission

About IIM Calcutta Innovation Park

The IIM Calcutta Innovation Park (IIMCIP) is a not-for-profit (Section 8) company established under the aegis of the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta to promote entrepreneurship and innovation in India. Recognised by the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, IIMCIP’s mission is to nurture innovative, socially impactful entrepreneurs who can drive inclusive growth.

Its core offerings span structured mentoring, capacity building, seed funding and access to markets and investors. To date, IIMCIP has supported over 2,000 startups and seed-funded 136 ventures, which have collectively raised more than ₹2,000 crore and built a cumulative portfolio valuation of nearly ₹8,000 crore.

IIMCIP also works closely with government bodies, corporates and academia to strengthen India’s innovation ecosystem, foster high-impact collaborations and promote women’s entrepreneurship, with a special focus on underserved regions of the country.

Standard Chartered Expands SC WIN Now & Next Programme to India and Greater Bay Area to Empower Women Entrepreneurs

• Standard Chartered and LIFTWOMEN® expand SC WIN Now & Next flagship programme into India and the Greater Bay Area to support women entrepreneurs

Standard Chartered (the “Bank”) and LIFTWOMEN® today announced the expansion of the Bank’s flagship Standard Chartered Women’s International Network (SC WIN) Now & Next Programme into India and the Greater Bay Area (GBA). This builds on the success of last year’s inaugural edition in Hong Kong and underscores the Bank’s commitment to driving global connectivity and supporting women entrepreneurs across major international markets.

The 2026 SC WIN Now & Next Programme leverages the Bank’s global SC WIN network, resources, and deep expertise in supporting women entrepreneurs. It combines a pitch format with a structured capability-building programme designed to accelerate growth at different stages of business development. The application window for participating in this programme is now open and will close on Friday 12 June 2026.

This expansion comes amid a significant shift in the global entrepreneurial landscape, with women founders accounting for a growing proportion of new businesses globally. As many of these enterprises lead in areas such as digital trade and sustainable technology, the programme offers a platform for female founders to navigate the complexities of international expansion and cross-border logistics, helping women-led SMEs capture growth opportunities. Specific to India, more than 3.07 crore women-led enterprises have been registered on the government’s Udyam platform as of February 28, 2026.

Xie Wen, Global Head, SME Banking, Standard Chartered, said, “We are delighted to expand our flagship SC WIN Now & Next programme into India and the Greater Bay Area, reinforcing our long-term commitment to supporting women entrepreneurs and building a more inclusive SME ecosystem. Through SC WIN, we bring together capability building, access to financing and cross-border connectivity, to empower women-led businesses to scale with confidence and play a bigger role in driving sustainable growth.”

Aditya Mandloi, MD & Head, Wealth and Retail Banking, India & South Asia, Standard Chartered said, Our SME Banking business is a strategic priority for Standard Chartered globally and a key growth engine for our India franchise. We have one of the largest SME footprints across foreign banks in India. As SME formation and entrepreneurship continue to accelerate, there is a clear need to support business owners holistically, addressing both their business and personal wealth needs. By addressing these integrated needs, we play a meaningful role in fostering a more inclusive, resilient and sustainable economy. This aligns with our vision to deliver comprehensive banking solutions that empower women entrepreneurs to thrive in an increasingly dynamic market. By offering tailored support and resources, we are committed to helping women-led SMEs achieve long-term success and contribute to broader economic prosperity in India and beyond. SC WIN Now & Next is one of the key initiatives that we are launching this year to support this meaningful ambition.

The programme champions women leaders through a rigorous and engaging programme that builds essential business skills, supports business scaling, and connects participants to a powerful ecosystem of mentors, peers and partners. Entrepreneurs gain market-relevant insights, access to cross-border platforms, and opportunities to scale internationally.

The programme will select 10 ambitious women-led businesses each from India and the GBA to participate in an exclusive 12-week SC WIN Global Accelerator Programme, with awards recognising outstanding women-led businesses across the participating markets. As part of this initiative, LiftWomen will run the accelerator programme by facilitating the sessions, contributing content, speakers and mentors.

Irene Tsang, Founder and CEO, LiftWomen® —We’re excited and proud to partner with Standard Chartered for the second year, now expanding into India and the GBA. LIFTWOMEN’s mission aligns perfectly with Standard Chartered’s commitment to supporting women entrepreneurs. By combining our strengths, we are making a meaningful impact. We look forward to building on this strong momentum together this year.

Last year, Lamia Sreya Rahman, Co-Founder and COO of Vidi Labs (Seekr) was awarded Venture of the Year for her AI-powered wearable device developed in close collaboration with and for the visually impaired community. Four additional entrepreneurs received category awards recognising innovation, international ambition, social impact, and community support. Award recipients continue to receive dedicated mentorship and regional networking opportunities through the SC WIN community.

With the Now & Next Programme as its flagship initiative, SC WIN is the Bank’s global programme supporting women-led SMEs with access to financing, expertise and global networks, helping them scale beyond their home markets. Since its launch in 2022, SC WIN has grown into a network of more than 4,500 women-owned businesses across seven markets. With over USD540 million in financing extended to date, it is on track to deliver on its USD1 billion financing commitment by 2028.

SC WIN Now & Next Programme – Overview:

Eligibility	Women entrepreneurs and business owners (including startups and SMEs seeking expansion)
Entry Criteria for India	≥ 51% shareholdings owned by women OR ≥ 50% shareholdings owned by a woman founder Incorporated in India with valid Business Registration (BR) The company must have been established for at least two years in India
Application Period	Tuesday, 28 April 2026 – Friday, 12 June 2026
Selection Process	The organiser will shortlist at least 30 applications, from which 10 finalists will be selected through online interviews to participate in the SC WIN Global Accelerator Programme and final pitch.
Awards	Best SC WIN Business Award Best Business for Good Award Best International Business Award Best Next Gen Business Award
Professional Support	Each finalist will receive dedicated mentorship and professional guidance Regional Exposure: Spotlight across Standard Chartered’s global social and business channels Strategic Networking: Access to markets, clients, and suppliers across the Standard Chartered network Finalists will have the opportunity to join the SC WIN Community, expanding business connections and collaboration opportunities

– Ends –

For further information please contact:

Rahul Virkar Head – External Communications Standard Chartered Bank, India Email: rahul.virkar@sc.com

Rajiv Banerjee Head - Communications, India and South Asia Standard Chartered Bank Email: rajiv.banerjee@sc.com

Note to editors

Standard Chartered

Standard Chartered Bank has been operating in India with a continuous presence of over 165 years making it one of the oldest foreign banks in the country offering a full range of services across business segments including Corporate and Investment Banking and Wealth and Retail Banking. The Bank has an extensive branch network covering major cities. For more information, visit https://www.sc.com/in/

Globally, we are a leading international banking group, with a presence in 54 of the world’s most dynamic markets. Our purpose is to drive commerce and prosperity through our unique diversity, and our heritage and values are expressed in our brand promise, here for good.

Standard Chartered PLC is listed on the London and Hong Kong stock exchanges.

For more stories and expert opinions please visit Insights at sc.com. Follow Standard Chartered on X, LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.

LiftWomen®

LIFTWOMEN® is Asia-Pacific’s first and leading women-focused crowdfunding platform and global network, empowering women and girls to start, grow, and scale their businesses. Through accessible funding, tailored coaching, and international mentorship, we bridge the gender funding gap and create transformative opportunities for women entrepreneurs to thrive.

Our mission is to democratise access to funding, equipping women worldwide with the tools, resources, and networks to build sustainable, scalable, and profitable businesses. We envision a future where every woman and girl has equitable access to funding and opportunities to realize their entrepreneurial dreams and unlock their full potential.

FarmDidi Secures $800K Seed Round to Expand Clean-Label Pickles and Rural Women Entrepreneurship

• TiE played a pivotal role in connecting FarmDidi with investors, says founder Manjari Sharma

FarmDidi, India’s fastest-growing homemade pickle brand co-founded by Manjari Sharma, a distinguished winner of the TiE Women Mumbai Chapter 2023 and one of the top six finalists at the Global Competition at TGS Singapore 2023, has successfully raised over $800,000 (₹7 crore) in seed funding. The round was led by Samved Ventures, with participation from LetsVenture, Indigram Labs, IIM Calcutta Innovation Park, and angel investors from premier institutes including IIM Calcutta and Symbiosis.

Since its founding in 2022, FarmDidi has delighted customers with authentic, chemical-free pickles made by empowered rural women entrepreneurs. The company currently operates at an impressive annual recurring revenue (ARR) of ₹18 crore, fulfilling over 30,000 monthly orders through its website and leading e-commerce platforms such as Amazon, Blinkit, Zepto, BigBasket, and Swiggy Instamart. FarmDidi is the #1 pickle brand on Amazon India.

The funds will be used to strengthen the team, invest in research and development, enhance technology-driven quality control, and expand its community of “Didis”, rural women entrepreneurs, from 2,000 to over 5,000.

Manjari Sharma, Co-Founder of FarmDidi.

“TiE has played a pivotal role by connecting us with investors and mentors who continue to guide me through this journey. At FarmDidi, our mission goes beyond creating authentic, homemade pickles; it is about empowering thousands of rural women to become confident entrepreneurs, preserving traditional recipes while embracing technology to deliver quality and trust to every household. This journey is proof of the power of passion, purpose, and perseverance coming together to create meaningful impact,” said Manjari Sharma, Co-Founder of FarmDidi.

Serial Entrepreneur & President, TiE Mumbai, Dr. Apoorva Ranjan Sharma, said, “TiE Mumbai has consistently stood at the forefront of entrepreneurial innovation. Our vision is to expand TiE’s impact through collaborations and engagement with startups, investors, corporates, academia, and policymakers. Supporting visionary founders like Manjari Sharma and brands like FarmDidi is exactly the kind of entrepreneurship that drives India’s growth and empowers communities.”

FarmDidi combines time-honored recipes with stringent food safety protocols to assure the nostalgic taste of “nani’s kitchen” and meet modern-day quality expectations. By enabling rural women to produce small-batch pickles at the farmgate, FarmDidi delivers clean-label products while creating sustainable livelihoods.

"Despite 90 lakh SHGs, the sector remains under-realized, held back by weak distribution, inconsistent quality, and limited branding. FarmDidi bridges these gaps with a tech-led, scalable model rooted in clean-label, homelike ingredients, input traceability, and easy consumer access, bringing high-quality homemade products to scale.", said Amit Srivastava, Partner at Samved Ventures.

"Beyond building a strong food brand, FarmDidi is creating distributed micro-production jobs for thousands of entrepreneurial women, addressing critical gaps in employment and social development. Bharat needs many such tech-enabled models that can amplify government programs and multiply their impact," he added.

Echoing this, Shanti Mohan, Founder of LetsVenture, said: “What excites us about FarmDidi is its rigorous focus on quality, clean-label products, and the deep trust it has built with consumers. But what makes it truly inspiring is that it’s not just a food brand, FarmDidi, it is proving that purpose and performance can go hand in hand, and we believe this blend will make it a household name across India and beyond.”

About FarmDidi

FarmDidi was founded in 2022 by Manjari Sharma, Anukrit Johari, and Asmita Ghodeshwar with a vision to become India’s most respected and loved food brand by providing traceable, tested, and traditional high-quality food while empowering at least 1 million rural women.

The company has been recognized by notable institutions such as UNDP, Shark Tank India, Wharton Economic Forum, Govt. of Maharashtra, and NITI Aayog’s Coffee Table Book. Often described as building a “Tech-led Lijjat Papad”, FarmDidi draws inspiration from the women-led cooperative that transformed 45,000 lives and built a ₹1,600 crore ($200M) empire.

40 Trailblazing Women, ₹10 Lakh Golden Grants—The Battle Begins! Watch Her Start-Up Show Season 2 on JioHotstar!

• Britannia Marie Gold Her Start-Up Show Returns with Season 2, Offering ₹10 Lakh Golden Grants to Women Entrepreneurs
• In collaboration with GroupM Motion Entertainment and Mindshare, the show premiered on April 19 on JioHotstar

Britannia Marie Gold announces the launch of Season 2 of Her Start-Up Show. Launched in partnership with GroupM Motion Entertainment and Mindshare, it is the first-ever national reality series dedicated to women entrepreneurs from across the country, a platform to showcase their ideas. The show, which premiered on JioHotstar on 19th April, features 40 finalists competing for the ₹10 lakh Golden Grant

Conceptualized by GroupM Motion Content, Britannia Marie Gold Her Start-Up Show is more than just a series— it's a catalyst for change, empowering women to turn their ideas into impact through funding, mentorship, and national visibility.

The show is the culmination of the Britannia Marie Gold Her Start-Up Contest, launched in July 2024, which saw participation from over one lakh aspiring women entrepreneurs across India. From these, over 100 women underwent professional training, with 40 moving to the shortlisting stage. Every participant stands to receive 10 Lakh of Britannia Marie Gold Grant or mentorship, in addition to national visibility and ecosystem access. The standout top 10 performers will win the prestigious ₹10 lakh Golden Grant, while the other promising women entrepreneurs will gain entry into the NSDC Women Entrepreneurs Mentorship Program.

Representing cities like Indore, Aurangabad, Coimbatore, Jammu & Kashmir, and more, the 40 contestants pitch ideas across food, fashion, sustainability, tech, and agri-solutions. The show is presented in six languages—Hindi, Bengali, Marathi, Tamil, Telugu, and Kannada—with subtitles and audio options available on JioHotstar. Spread across eight episodes, two new ones drop every weekend from April 19 on JioHotstar, showcasing journeys from pitches to mentorship to the ₹10 lakh Britannia Marie Gold Grant.

Hosted by actress Shriya Saran, the show features an all-star jury: actor-entrepreneur Neha Dhupia, MasterChef winner Shipra Khanna, artisan Ruma Devi, Suta’s Sujata Biswas, Aarti Gupta (Jagran Group), Riya Joseph (Britannia), and Shreshtha Gupta (NSDC India), to name a few.

Siddharth Gupta, General Manager - Marketing, Britannia, said, “Britannia Marie Gold’s journey of empowering women entrepreneurs began five years ago with a simple belief that millions of women across India have powerful ideas, and all they need is a platform to be seen and supported. What started as a nationwide contest has grown into a robust ecosystem with initiatives like HerStore and now, Season 2 of Her Start-Up Show. Each step has deepened our commitment to helping women ‘Do More, Be More’. We’re proud to partner with GroupM and Mindshare, whose belief in the power of storytelling has helped bring these entrepreneurial journeys to life. With this show, we not only celebrate ambition but also create access to mentorship, funding, and national visibility. Together, we remain committed to enabling every woman who dares to dream and dares to build.”

Ashwin Padmanabhan, COO, GroupM South Asia, “We have always believed in media’s power to spark movements, not just moments. Her Start-Up Show blends storytelling with purpose, driving real economic empowerment. The overwhelming response to Season 1 showed how deeply this platform resonated with women in one region. That’s why, in Season 2, we are expanding to six languages and a broader reach across India. Thus, bringing every ambitious woman closer to the support she deserves. This show goes beyond visibility; it is about bringing dreams alive via action, impact, and a re-imagined future for women entrepreneurship.”

“At Mindshare, we believe in building brands that don’t just sell but spark change. In its second season, Her Start-Up Show goes far beyond amplification, it’s about creating access, fuelling aspiration, and offering a platform to women entrepreneurs across India. We are incredibly grateful to our client, Britannia, for backing this bold vision and partnering with us to bring it to life. What started as a pioneering idea is now an award-winning show, with its impact resonating across markets and touching countless lives. With its expansion to a larger OTT platform, the show’s reach and influence have scaled significantly, finding its way into more homes, hearts, and boardrooms. These aren’t just stories; they are real journeys of transformation. Together with GroupM Motion Entertainment and Britannia, we are proud to drive a narrative where media becomes a powerful force for empowerment and enduring change.” Amin Lakhani, CEO, Mindshare South Asia.

Actress and host Shriya Saran said “Being part of Her Start-Up Show has been truly inspiring. It’s a powerful platform that gives women across India the opportunity to turn their dreams into reality. I’m proud to be part of a show that celebrates ambition, courage, and the spirit of women entrepreneurs.”

Britannia Marie Gold has always shown its unwavering commitment to empowering millions of women in their entrepreneurial dreams through initiatives like the Marie Gold HerStartup contest, previously known as MyStartup Contest and Her.Store. The Britannia Marie Gold Her Start-up Show is a continuation of that legacy, celebrating women who are shattering barriers and inspiring a nation.

Season 2 of Britannia Marie Gold Her Start-up show is streaming exclusively on JioHotstar.

About Britannia Industries

Britannia is a 100+ year old Company and is a market leader in the Bakery category in India with an annual revenue of over Rs 165 billion. The company’s two focus categories include - Bakery & Dairy, with trusted & iconic brands such as Good Day, Marie Gold, Milk Bikis & Nutrichoice. Britannia products are available in over 80 countries. The Company manufactures its products in nearly 100 factories, which are made available in over 27 lakh outlets to eventually reach over 180 million households in the country. The Company's vision is to be a responsible global, total foods company, and delight consumers with delicious, and wholesome snacks and beverages throughout the day.

About GroupM Motion Entertainment

GroupM Motion Entertainment is a global content investment and rights management company that meets the market demand for new economic models for premium content across the entertainment and media marketplace. This is achieved by investing and partnering with the world’s leading talent, producers, and distributors to fund, develop, produce, and distribute premium content to help drive and support editorially and commercially vibrant, premium content networks and platforms for the global benefit of our content partners and advertisers. GroupM Motion Entertainment India’s IP includes the No.1 YAARI Series, Critics’ Choice Awards, Hello Sago, and others. Headquartered in London and Los Angeles, the business operates in 26 countries worldwide with Motion’s broad range of award-winning programming distributed globally. GroupM Motion Entertainment is part of GroupM, the world’s leading full-service media investment management operation, a WPP company.

About Mindshare:

We were born in Asia in 1997, a WPP start-up designed to make media exciting, fun and life changing. For over 20 years our values of Speed, Teamwork and Provocation have guided us in a world where everything begins and ends in media. We are the Cannes Lions Media Network of the Year 2023 and WARC Media 100 #1 Media Network 2020, with the top 3 most creative campaigns of the past year – so basically, statistically the best media agency in the world! Our 10,000 people work with some of the world’s best brands and companies to challenge convention. In 116 offices across 86 countries, we integrate brand and demand, ruthlessly focus on outcomes, and create the unexpected.

Amazon Promotes Entrepreneurship and Financial Literacy for 30,000 Women and Young People

‘Entrepreneurship for Enablement’ program has a vision to enable and transform local businesses, providing them with financial and digital literacy and opportunities to become sellers on ecommerce platforms, ensuring long term success of this innovative enterprise

Amazon India announced the launch of a three-year programme “Entrepreneurship for Enablement” to help 30,000 women and young people learn about starting their own business and managing their finances. The programme will run in collaboration with ACCESS Development Services, a livelihoods support organization with focus on incubating innovations for sustainable livelihoods. Co-created and funded by Amazon, the initiative will run across the states of Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, and Maharashtra. The launch event in Gurugram on March 20, 2025, brought together key stakeholders including officials from Development Department, Gurugram, Reserve Bank of India, The National Bank for Agriculture and Rural Development (NABARD) and Rural Development & Self Employment Training Institute (RUDSETI), who discussed opportunities and challenges in the development of entrepreneurs.

With a focus on women’s entrepreneurship, the programme aims to provide business development training and support to up to 3,000 entrepreneurs through structured mentorship programs. Additionally, the program plans to offer digital literacy training for up to 24,000 participants focusing on smartphone usage, while facilitating digital payment platform training for up to 22,000 individuals.

The program will also support the establishment of 1,200 new enterprises, with 80% expected to achieve INR 1 lakh annual revenue by their third year. It will also develop 10 model enterprises, half of which will be women-led, which are expected to generate INR 10 to 25 lakhs in annual turnover and create new employment opportunities. The programme will also aim to create opportunities for these entrepreneurs to sell offline as well as online.

Mr. Vipin Sharma, CEO, ACCESS Development Services said, "Empowering women entrepreneurs is crucial to unlocking India's economic resilience and achieving its $5 trillion aspiration. Our 'Entrepreneurship for Enablement' initiative with Amazon aims to bridge critical gaps, equipping women and youth with skills, finance, and digital tools to establish thriving businesses. Together, we can catalyze a wave of women-led enterprises, driving sustainable growth, unlocking new opportunities, and harnessing the gender dividend for a more inclusive economy."

Dr Karuna Shankar Pande, Vice President, Amazon Logistics India said, “Entrepreneurship is a key driver of economic growth, and through this initiative, we aim to equip women and young people with the resources and skills they need to build sustainable businesses. Through this initiative, we aim to augment India’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, unlocking economic opportunities and empowering tens of thousands of individuals to become self-reliant by 2027. Our community impact initiatives like these are designed to empower the communities we serve in, enabling digital and financial inclusion and also ensuring long-term opportunities and benefits for them.”

The project will be implemented and scaled across 3 States (cluster of 5 to 8 villages) while maintaining a dual focus on knowledge building and enterprise development.

In Haryana, the project will focus on three clusters in the Farukhnagar and Taoru areas of Gurgaon district, specifically targeting Jamalpur, Sehsola, Binola, and Bhora Kalan. These locations have the potential for the growth of agricultural enterprises, food manufacturing units, retail businesses, handicrafts, and beauty services.

In Uttar Pradesh, the initiative will concentrate on two key clusters—Bhaukapur in Lucknow and Bajhera in Unnao, where there is significant scope for traditional handicrafts like chikankari and terracotta work, along with banking correspondent units, retail stores, garment businesses, and food service establishments.

In Maharashtra, the project will operate across three clusters in the Bhiwandi area. The focus will be on developing businesses around traditional handicrafts such as pottery and warli paintings, power loom units, food manufacturing, and service-oriented businesses such as tutoring and catering services. The geographies of the project aim to cater to diverse entrepreneurial opportunities while building on existing skills and market potential in each region.

Amazon India is committed to being a force for good in our communities. Since 2014, our community engagement has evolved to address key social needs, from education and livelihoods to health, environmental sustainability, and disaster response. Today, we focus on food and nutrition security, livelihoods, and associate welfare through structured, long-term programs. By collaborating with NGOs, local ambassadors, and community stakeholders, we strive to create lasting, meaningful impact.

Amazon India’s ElevateHER 2025 Empowers Women Through Speed Mentoring and Career Development

On the occasion of International Women’s Day (IWD) 2025, Amazon India celebrated ‘Amazon ElevateHER 2025’ - an initiative designed to empower women through mentorship and career development opportunities. Aligned with this year’s global IWD theme, ‘Accelerate Action’, the event, held in Bangalore, brought together Amazon leaders and aspiring professionals for insightful discussions on mentorship, allyship and sponsorship for career growth. ElevateHER 2025 reflects Amazon’s commitment to gender equality and providing women with the tools and resources needed to reach their full potential.

A key highlight of the event was the speed mentoring session, where over 100 women from diverse backgrounds engaged in focused conversations with Amazon leaders on career growth, leadership development and building confidence to advance professionally. Further enriching the event was a fireside chat on ‘’Guiding Light: Sponsorship, Resilience, and Empowering Women to Rise’’ featuring actor and author Sonali Bendre and Deepti Varma, VP - HR/ People eXperience and Technology, Amazon India, Japan and Emerging Markets.

Group Pic (Deepti Varma, VP, PxT, Amazon Stores India, Japan and Emerging Markets and Sonali Bendre, Actor and Author)

Deepti Varma, VP-PXT, Amazon Stores India and Emerging Markets and Sonali Bendre, Actor and Author

"At Amazon, we're building a culture where everyone can thrive. Our approach has evolved from mentorship to allyship and sponsorship, creating a support system for career advancement. Our leaders champion initiatives for employees, associates, and partners that foster growth within Amazon. ElevateHER 2025 aims to equip women from diverse backgrounds with skills and the network they need to achieve their career goals and we are excited with the opportunity the speed mentoring sessions offered to these aspiring professionals,’’ said Deepti Varma, VP of HR/ People eXperience and Technology, Amazon India, Japan and Emerging Markets.

Empowering women in the workplace isn’t just about opportunity—it’s about creating an environment where confidence, leadership, and growth thrive. Being part of Amazon ElevateHER has been truly inspiring, seeing so many talented women take charge of their careers and break barriers —said Sonali Bendre, Actor and Author.

ElevateHER 2025 featured an engaging lineup of sessions designed to inspire and empower. A thought-provoking panel discussion - "Accelerating Action: Building Resilient Careers" brought together Amazon leaders Gitanjali Bhutani, Director - Software Development, Amazon India; Zeba Khan, Director, Consumer Electronics, Amazon India; Rajeev Sharma, Director-Talent Acquisition, Amazon, and moderated by Neha Gupta Mahatme, Director – Amazon Pay. The panel delved into actionable strategies to accelerate women’s professional growth and strengthen inclusive workplace practices.

Sharing her experience as a participant at the event, Astha Pant said, “Participating in Amazon’s ElevateHER 2025 was a valuable experience. The insights I gained from senior leaders will help me navigate workplace challenges and provided practical strategies for career growth. The mentoring session was more than just advice—it encouraged me to reassess my professional goals, set clearer objectives, and approach my career with greater confidence. I’m grateful for the opportunity to be part of this initiative.’’       

ElevateHER 2025 is just one facet of Amazon India’s ongoing commitment to fostering a more inclusive workplace and empowering women at all levels. The company has implemented a range of comprehensive mentorship and development programs designed to support women's growth, leadership capabilities, and career advancement, both within Amazon and in the broader community. These initiatives are designed to create a strong pipeline of future women leaders:

Amazon Programs for women employees:

• Catapult: In partnership with Harvard Business Publishing Corporate Learning, this program focuses on developing mid-level women managers, equipping them with the skills and knowledge to excel in leadership roles.
• Women in Leadership program (WLP): Tailored support for women in mid-management roles, helping them sharpen their leadership voice, strengthen their professional networks, and develop a broader enterprise mindset.
• Ask Me Anything: Provides fresh women leaders an opportunity to seek guidance from senior women leaders through one-on-one sessions, fostering mentorship and knowledge sharing.
• Listening Circles: Creates a safe space for women employees to engage in open conversations with leaders, fostering a sense of community and providing valuable feedback.
• Amazon Catalyst Program: A developmental initiative that enables Amazon women leaders to leverage the knowledge, experience, learnings and guidance of senior Amazon leaders via 1:1 mentoring to accelerate their growth and professional development.
• Women in Leadership (WIL): WIL is an immersive development program for women enabling them to understand career anchors, identify self-limiting biases and leverage mechanisms across networking, branding and sponsorship.
• ‘Sponsor for Success’ - A recently piloted program, it matches high-performing, underrepresented talent with skip-level leaders as sponsors. Sponsors act as advocates across the leadership chain and connectors to wider networks. They provide tangible feedback for navigating promotions, strengthening skills, and enable crucible experiences for the talent.

Amazon Programs for female students, professionals and the community:

• Amazon WoW: A program designed to support career readiness for women in tech and other careers. WoW will help women expand their network, learn about different career paths, and build their leadership skills. 
• AmazeWIT (Women In Technology): A unique networking and learning event for women in the technology space to connect, engage, educate, and prepare them for successful careers in technology.
• Amazon Saheli: Empowers women entrepreneurs across the country by providing them with a platform to sell their products on Amazon.in, fostering economic independence and growth.

Amazon Future Engineer Scholarships (AFE): A childhood-to-career program focused on providing equitable opportunities in Computer Science education for underprivileged students, with a focus on enabling women's access to technology careers through scholarships and internships.

India Accelerator Empowers Women-Led Tech Ventures with FoundHer Initiative

To celebrate International Women’s Day, India Accelerator, India’s leading fund-led accelerator and a part of the Global Accelerator Network, is excited to host FoundHer— a Demo Day dedicated to empowering women founders in the technology startup space.

In India, women entrepreneurs often face challenges in accessing expert-led mentorship, funding and visibility. They represent only a small fraction of the Indian startup ecosystem burgeoning with over 1.5 lakh registered startups. To offer unprecedented support, IA has launched FoundHer initiative to create an exclusive platform for women founders to showcase their potential and startup innovation. It is based on a strategic approach to bridge the critical gap of inclusivity by connecting women founders with investors, mentors and industry leaders, thereby, providing them with the right resources.

Elated with the campaign, Ashish Bhatia, Founder & CEO of India Accelerator said, “We are committed to unlocking new growth opportunities for women founders. This campaign is in complete sync with our promise to provide significant exposure to startup founders in both industry circles and investors community. Such initiatives are instrumental in fostering a more inclusive startup ecosystem for women.”

To spark curiosity, IA strategically evokes conversations around the campaign with highly engaging social media campaigns under the hashtag #IAFoundHer. The campaign builds intrigue with thought-provoking posts that ask questions such as "Found Her?" and "Did You Find Her?”, following it up with a slew of communication on various social media platforms around announcing the event, talking about the process and the attractive gratifications, including Capital deployment to winning start-ups.

As part of the strategy, IA will invite participants to submit their pitches in PowerPoint or video format. Through this approach, IA intends to invite startup applications from across the nation; thereby fostering a movement that provides a platform to the maximum number of women founders. It will also encourage women founders to tag India Accelerator and share their entrepreneurial journeys which will also augment the accelerator’s efforts in building a supportive community for women.

To participate in the campaign, aspiring women entrepreneurs can review the campaign guidelines and submit their innovative business ideas on IA’s official website. IA will shortlist the top five game-changing startups and invite them to participate in its exclusive Pitch & Demo Day. A panel of four distinguished evaluators are dedicated to assess the pitches and provide valuable feedback to the participants.

With this Women's Day campaign, IA undertakes a bold step towards building a diverse and inclusive startup ecosystem. By creating a dedicated platform for women founders, India Accelerator is addressing the systemic challenges and transforming the way women entrepreneurs lead the charge in the Tech industry.

About India Accelerator:

India Accelerator (IA), the country's preeminent seed-stage startup accelerator, and the recipient of the "Best Accelerator of the Country" award from Start-up India in 2022. Our commitment to fostering innovation and supporting upcoming founders has consistently positioned us at the forefront of the Indian start-up ecosystem. Along with the Accelerator, we are also very active in early-stage investments through its Joint Venture ‘Finvolve’ and its 3 AIFs & a Gift City Fund. IA is not just about funding; it is a holistic ecosystem enhancer that provides startups with the necessary tools, mentorship, and network to thrive in the competitive landscape.

SBI Champions Women Entrepreneurship: Launches Skill Development Program for 5,200 Women

State Bank of India, the country’s largest bank and the banker to over 21 crore women strengthens its ‘women empowerment’ mission with the launch of a special training program tailored exclusively for women across its 153 Rural Self Employment Training Institutes (RSETIs). This program that is inaugurated on the occasion of Republic Day is set to benefit approximately 5,200 women candidates. The programme was virtually inaugurated jointly by Shri. Shailesh Kumar Singh, Secretary, (MoRD) and Shri. C. S. Setty, Chairman, SBI. The inauguration ceremony witnessed the presence of SBI’s Managing Director, Shri. Vinay Tonse as well.

The program encompasses 27 diverse training modules, including tailoring, food processing, beauty services, vermiculture, agarbatti/candle making, bee-keeping, jute product manufacturing, soft toy creation, and "One GP, One BC," among others. Participants will also receive comprehensive guidance on accessing financial assistance and establishing market linkages to ensure the long-term success of their ventures. To inspire and motivate participants, local dignitaries and successful entrepreneurs will share their experiences and insights.

SBI’s RSETIs have been pivotal in promoting self-employment nationwide. Since their inception, these institutes have trained approximately 12.74 lakh candidates through nearly 46,818 training programs, with an impressive 74% of candidates achieving self-employment.

Given the significant contribution of women to India’s GDP of around 18%, ensuring women empowerment has become the need of the hour for the nation.

State Bank of India has significantly aided the entrepreneurship dream of women in India. With a SHG (self-help group) loan portfolio of over ₹50,000 crores, SBI has impacted the lives of over 1 crore women involved in such groups, securing market leadership in this segment. In addition, the participation of females in the total enrolments covered by SBI has been more than 50% under the Social Security Schemes. Further, in terms of CSR, women empowerment has been one of the key focus areas of SBI.

Secretary Department of Rural Development, Sh. Shailesh Kumar Singh highlighted significance of the initiative in advancing the Government vision for inclusive and equitable development. He also commended SBI’s steadfast commitment to rural development and acknowledged the critical role played by SBI’s RSETIs in fostering financial literacy, skill-building, and entrepreneurship among women.

Speaking on this occasion State Bank of India’s Chairman, Shri. C. S. Setty said, “This special training program underscores SBI’s commitment to fostering women empowerment and advancing financial inclusion in its true spirit. It is not only making rural women self-reliant but also is a step towards “Viksit Bharat”. By equipping women with the skills, we aim to support their journey toward economic independence while contributing to the broader goal of nation-building.”

This initiative reflects SBI’s unwavering dedication to empowering women through skill development, enabling them to build sustainable livelihoods and make meaningful contributions to their communities.

Bajaj Finance Secures $400 Mn Loan From IFC to Support Women Micro-Entrepreneurs/Borrowers and Boost EVs Sales

The International Finance Corporation (IFC), a member of the World Bank Group, has committed a $400 million loan to Bajaj Finance to boost electric vehicle (EV) sales and support energy-efficient consumer goods in India. This funding is part of Bajaj Finance's $1 billion fundraising plan.

This funding is part of Bajaj Finance's $1 billion fundraising plan and aims to increase competitiveness in the climate finance market, support India's climate goals, and promote financial inclusion.

The loan aims to expand access to finance for customers purchasing EVs, including two-wheelers, three-wheelers, and four-wheelers, as well as energy-efficient appliances.

The initiative also focuses on supporting women-owned microenterprises and women micro-borrowers. The funding will promote financial inclusion by ensuring that more women have access to the necessary resources to start and expand their businesses.

This partnership is expected to quadruple Bajaj Finance's climate loan portfolio to $600 million by 2027, contributing to India's net-zero goals.

The funding will increase competitiveness in the climate finance market and promote financial inclusion.

Sandeep Jain, CFO & COO of Bajaj Finance, highlighted that responsible business practices driven by their ESG principles are foundational to their operations.

Imad N Fakhoury, Regional Director for South Asia at IFC, mentioned that accelerating climate financing is crucial for India to meet its net-zero goals and that this investment will inspire other NBFCs and investors to expand their financing for energy-efficient solutions, e-mobility, and microfinance.

33% of Goan Startups are Founded by Women, Higher than National Average

Goa has seen a surge in women-led startups. According to recent reports, Goa is leading the way in gender diversity within the startup ecosystem. As per the reports, 33% of the 225 registered startups in Goa have been founded by women entrepreneurs. This is significantly higher than India's national average of 18% for women-led startups.

The growth in women-founded startups in Goa is a positive sign of the changing dynamics in the entrepreneurial landscape. It's encouraging to see women entrepreneurs leveraging state policies to grow their businesses, particularly in sectors like hospitality and services. Initiatives like the Goa Startup Yatra and various programs and masterclasses are also playing a crucial role in supporting these entrepreneurs.

This trend not only contributes to economic expansion but also serves as an inspiration for the next generation of women founders. It's a testament to the innovative spirit and determination of women who are making significant strides in the tech industry and the startup ecosystem as a whole.

Some of the women-led startups are ASIER Solutions, I-Assist, Blurb Consultancy, Goenkart Digital World, Make it Happen, Tea Trunk, Contractzy, and many others. Most of these startups are from the hospitality and service sector.

These startups operate in various sectors, with many of them being active in hospitality and services. The state's supportive policies, initiatives like the Goa Startup Yatra, and incubators have played a crucial role in empowering these women entrepreneurs.

Some of the women founders said that the startup and IT promotion cell (SITPC) and the incubators have helped them launch their startups.

The success stories of these Goan Startups inspire the next generation of women founders, making Goa an emerging startup destination in the region.

Amazon India and GAME Tieup To Boost Rural Women Entrepreneurship via E-commerce

Amazon India and GAME will collaborate to empower 25k+ women entrepreneurs across India

• Partnership will provide women entrepreneurs with essential tools, resources, and training to succeed in the digital ecommerce ecosystem
• Aiming to foster inclusivity and drive economic growth within rural communities. 

Amazon India signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with ‘Global Alliance for Mass Entrepreneurship (GAME), to collaborate and promote digital growth of women entrepreneurs in India, especially in Tier-2, Tier-3 cities and beyond. Through this partnership, Amazon India will aim to support approximately 25,000 women entrepreneurs and artisans in their digital entrepreneurial journey. GAME is providing inputs in business capacity building, bridging digital marketing skill gaps and enabling them to aggregate as collected brands. With the objective of creating platform access and enabling financial independence for rural women entrepreneurs and artisans, this initiative will provide the necessary support and resources for them to thrive in the digital landscape.

The MOU between Amazon India and GAME aims to co-develop and facilitate broad-based entrepreneurship to accelerate and sustain the growth of the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) in India. Amazon Karigar & Saheli will offer workshops/training, onboarding and AM support for sellers involved in this entrepreneurship without any financial investment.. This aligns with Amazon's commitment to bolster India's economy and create millions of sustainable jobs by 2030, through partnerships within the entrepreneurship ecosystem. Further, women entrepreneurs will be provided with hands-on training and support on digital marketing initiatives, performance marketing, product listing optimization, and advertising techniques, equipping them to adapt to current and future trends in the digital marketplace. Additionally, they will gain access to valuable data-driven insights and metrics get better knowledge on customer behaviour and market trends.

Commenting on the occasion, Mr. Gaurav Bhatnagar Head of Seller Acquisition and Development at Amazon India said, “It is truly inspiring to witness women entrepreneurs nationwide harnessing the power e-commerce to build and grow their business. Through innovative products, they are catering to customer preferences and establishing scalable enterprises that contribute significantly to societal well-being and economy. We are honored to be a catalyst in their entrepreneurial journey through our Saheli program. Our steadfast commitment lies in facilitating worldwide customer access, thereby empowering these women to realize their full potential in the dynamic landscape of Digital India.”

Sharing his views on this occasion, Mr. Ketul Acharya, President, Global Alliance for Mass Entrepreneurship, “We are delighted to have partnered with Amazon for the Saheli program. GAME's Women Economic Empowerment (WEE) program seeks to enable women entrepreneurs by enhancing their livelihood opportunities and connecting them with diverse platforms and economic partners. Through this partnership, WEE at GAME is supporting Amazon in solving large-scale ecosystem challenges to women's economic empowerment with access to training in the digital marketplace as well as research and data about access to new markets."

Amazon launched its special program for women entrepreneurs, ‘Amazon Saheli’ in 2017, which seeks to bring to the fore locally made products from women entrepreneurs and local women owned businesses in India. As part of this initiative, Amazon works with partners and woman entrepreneurs to drive digitization and to provide requisite tools to woman entrepreneurs to enable them to become successful in their digital endeavours. Since its inception, Saheli has digitized over 1.8 million rural, hyperlocal and urban women-led businesses through its partner network, selling selection of products such as apparel, jewellery, groceries, on the ecommerce marketplace. The products are sourced from different (NGOs) across India. More than 80,000+ women artisans are involved in this partnership and benefit from it. The artisans produce and sell these products to support their livelihoods.

Amazon India has provided numerous opportunities for women across its ecosystem, including Seller Partners, Operations Network Partners, Community Beneficiaries, Employees, and Associates, all of whom play crucial roles in positively impacting Amazon's diverse customer base throughout the country. The company has made significant strides in introducing various benefits, programs, and initiatives to empower women both within and outside its organization. These efforts reflect Amazon's dedication to women's empowerment and its unwavering commitment to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion within its ecosystem culture, thereby enhancing the overall Amazon experience.

In reaffirmation of its commitment to women's empowerment, Amazon India launches the third edition of the #SheIsAmazon campaign on the occasion of the 49th International Women’s Day, under the theme #InspireInclusion. This campaign highlights 49 distinct programs, initiatives, and benefits implemented by various entities within Amazon to empower women both within and beyond the company. These initiatives have played a significant role in advancing women's professional journeys and stand as symbols of Amazon's dedication to their empowerment.

The Amazon.in marketplace is operated by Amazon Seller Services Private Ltd, an affiliate of Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN). Amazon.in seeks to build the most customer-centric online destination for customers to find and discover virtually anything they want to buy online by giving them more of what they want – vast selection, competitive prices, fast and reliable delivery, and a trusted and convenient experience; and provide sellers with a world-class e-commerce marketplace.

About Amazon:

Amazon is guided by four principles: customer obsession rather than competitor focus, passion for invention, commitment to operational excellence, and long-term thinking. Customer reviews, 1-Click shopping, personalized recommendations, Prime, Fulfillment by Amazon, AWS, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kindle, Fire tablets, Fire TV, Amazon Echo, and Alexa are some of the products and services pioneered by Amazon.

About Global Alliance for Mass Entrepreneurship (GAME):

GAME intends to unlock the potential of Mass Entrepreneurship (ME) in India. Three prolific entrepreneurs, Ravi Venkatesan, Madan Padaki, and Mekin Maheshwari, started GAME in August 2018 as a backbone organisation that aligns the ecosystem and mobilises action to address systemic challenges to job creation in India. GAME intends to bring together a cross-section of alliances, partners, funders, and other players in the ecosystem who can help inspire an entrepreneurial movement across the country. Its mission is to catalyse an India-wide movement of mass entrepreneurship for the growth of both existing and new enterprises, resulting in 50 million new jobs by 2030, where women own 25% of the businesses. To know more, please visit: https://massentrepreneurship.org/

Empowering Rural Women Entrepreneurs: Enhancing Financial Well-being with FIA Global

FIA Educating Women on Financial Independence

FIA Global Brings Affordable Digital Financing to Women and Other Unbanked Persons

FIA Global, a woman-led organisation offers a comprehensive range of sachet financial services through its state-of-the-art fintech platform that is powered by artificial intelligence (AI). These services are designed for women and women-owned businesses and other financially excluded populations who live or work in underserved geographies and economically backward areas in India.

FIA Global uses its deep-tech expertise, including investments in AI and developing AI skillsets; investments in a massive rural distribution network, with 50% as women banking agents and its large network of financial service alliances with banks, microfinance institutions (MFIs), insurance companies, mutual fund houses, and the government of India to deploy financial inclusion solutions at scale.

 

Women to fulfill their financial potential with FIA Bank Sakhis

FIA Global Bank Sakhis Transforming Lives

FIA Global works with these financial service partners to customize their products for women, micro and small entrepreneurs, and other unbanked markets. FIA integrates the financial products provided by its financial partners into its platform and helps them reach the rural markets through the existing network of banking agents.

Speaking on the subject, Ms. Seema Prem, the CEO and Co-Founder of FIA Global, comments, “FIA invests time and effort to mobilize and build the capacity of SHGs at scale to support our rapid outreach to close the finance gap. We also partner with public institutions like the National Skills Development Corporation and the edtech company Unnati to provide vocational training to SHG members to enable women to get the necessary skills for starting their businesses. Through this focussed approach FIA, an impact fintech has been serving the low-income households in South Asia.”

FIA Global has a three-pronged approach of expanding the services into the new regions.

1. Educating and training women to work as banking agent micro-entrepreneurs in new target regions in India and in Bangladesh. Women run about 18 percent of FIA Global's banking outlets. These women are selected, educated and trained by FIA Global trainers. The model accelerates the inclusion of women and minorities in formal finance. The women are an effective channel to get more local community women to use banking services.
2. Improving financial literacy. Creating financial resilience for lower-income women, women micro-entrepreneurs, entrepreneurs and owners of SMEs requires targeted public education efforts. FIA has been organizing, nurturing and enabling linkages with banks and MFIs by working with the local community partners (NGOs) to create and support Self Help Groups (SHGs). FIA also uses referrals to fill the gap through skill building initiatives.
3. Connecting women-owned businesses to financing and re-engaging women in the workforce. FIA in association with the community partners, provides training and links the women entrepreneurs who operate in cash economies, who are not noticed by the banks, who are also likely to be targets of unscrupulous money lenders. FIA and its partners also get access for these women to a larger pool of working capital loans, and agricultural and livestock loans at market rates. Once credit history is built, banks extend larger loans.

The digital finance model of FIA Global makes it easy for women-owned or -led businesses to avail themselves of efficient banking services to pay wages and bills digitally and access working capital. The business owners can also avail of the benefits and as much as they can provide their employees, through enrolment in social security schemes, including life and health insurance, and pension plans.

In the post-pandemic world, women suffered job losses and depleted savings, losing financial independence. The absence of bank accounts worsened the situation, limiting savings and social protections. Two-thirds of working women lost jobs in April 2020, with few returning unlike men. Even after two years, women business owners in South Asia face a financing gap that threatens their survival. In India, the gender gap in accessing credit for women-owned MSMEs is estimated at $158 billion due to the pandemic. FIA Global strives to create gender-inclusive financial systems and prevent regression of women's progress in finance and workforce integration.

The Advantages of Unsecured Business Loans for Women-Owned Businesses

In today's dynamic business landscape, women entrepreneurs are making remarkable strides, bringing innovation, creativity, and leadership to the forefront. To empower and support the growth of women-owned businesses, these loans provide a range of advantages. This includes competitive Business Loan interest rates, flexible repayment terms, and simplified application processes. In this article, we will explore the advantages of Unsecured Business Loans for women-owned businesses and how they can fuel their success.

Advantages of Unsecured Business Loans for Women Entrepreneurs

Easy Access to Funding

One of the primary advantages of Unsecured Business Loans for women-owned businesses is easy access to funding. Unlike Secured Loans that require collateral, Unsecured Loans do not necessitate the pledging of assets, making the loan application process simpler and faster. Women entrepreneurs can swiftly obtain the funds they need to start a new venture, expand an existing business, or invest in technology and equipment.

Financial Independence

Unsecured Business Loans provide women entrepreneurs with the opportunity to achieve financial independence. By accessing capital without the requirement of collateral, women-owned businesses can retain ownership of their assets and maintain control over their business decisions. This independence allows women entrepreneurs to pursue their vision and make strategic choices without compromising their business's long-term growth.

Tailored Loan Amounts

Unsecured Business Loans offer flexibility in loan amounts, allowing women-owned businesses to access the capital required for various purposes. Whether it's expanding operations, purchasing inventory, investing in technology, or marketing initiatives, Unsecured Business Loans can be tailored to meet specific business needs. This enables women entrepreneurs to seize growth opportunities and stay competitive in their respective industries.

Competitive Interest Rates

Financial institutions understand the importance of providing access to capital at favorable terms for women-owned businesses. As a result, Unsecured Business Loans often come with competitive Business Loan interest rates, making the borrowing process affordable and cost-effective. Lower interest rates enable women entrepreneurs to manage their finances more effectively, improve profitability, and invest in sustainable growth strategies. Women-owned businesses can leverage these competitive Business Loan interest rates to maximize their return on investment.

Shorter Loan Terms

Unsecured Loans often have shorter repayment periods compared to Secured Loans. This is because lenders try to mitigate their risk by limiting the time during which the borrower has to repay the loan.

Networking and Support

Many financial institutions that offer Unsecured Business Loans for women entrepreneurs also provide networking opportunities, mentoring programs, and support services specifically designed to assist women-owned businesses. These additional resources can offer valuable guidance, connections to potential customers or investors, and access to industry-specific expertise, further boosting the chances of success for women entrepreneurs.

Quick and Convenient Application Process

Financial institutions, such as NBFCs, understand the value of time for women entrepreneurs. The application process for Unsecured Business Loans is streamlined, making it quick and convenient. These institutions prioritize efficiency and aim to minimize the time and effort required for loan approval and disbursal.

Flexible Loan Amounts

Unsecured Business Loans offer flexibility in loan amounts, allowing women-owned businesses to access the capital required for various purposes. Whether it's expanding operations, purchasing inventory, investing in technology, or marketing initiatives, Unsecured Business Loans can be tailored to meet specific business needs.

Business Expansion and Growth

Unsecured Business Loans provide women-owned businesses with the financial boost needed to expand operations and foster growth. Whether it's opening new locations, hiring additional staff, or investing in marketing and advertising campaigns, these loans offer the necessary capital to fuel expansion plans.

Enhanced Cash Flow Management

Maintaining a healthy cash flow is vital for any business's success, and Unsecured Business Loans can play a pivotal role in achieving this. Women-owned businesses often face challenges in managing cash flow due to factors such as delayed payments or seasonal fluctuations. Unsecured Business Loans provide the necessary liquidity to bridge these gaps, ensuring a steady cash flow and enabling businesses to meet their financial obligations promptly.

Conclusion

Unsecured Business Loans have emerged as a game-changer for women-owned businesses, providing them with the financial support they need to thrive and succeed in today's competitive business environment. The advantages of easy access to funding, financial independence, tailored loan amounts, competitive Business Loan interest rates, business expansion opportunities, enhanced cash flow management, building credit history, and networking support contribute significantly to the growth and success of women entrepreneurs. By leveraging these advantages and accessing Unsecured Business Loans, women-owned businesses can unlock their full potential, drive innovation, and contribute to economic empowerment and gender equality in the business world. 

National Commission for Women (NCW) & EDII to Organise 100 Entrepreneurship Awareness Programmes (EAPs) for Potential Women Entrepreneurs Across India

The National Commission for Women (NCW) in collaboration with the Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII) has announced the launch of 100 Entrepreneurship Awareness Programmes (EAPs) for potential women entrepreneurs across the country. The first EAP out of the 100 to be organized across the country, was launched in Ujjain on Friday, by Chief Guest, Shri Mangubhai Patel, Hon’ble Governor of Madhya Pradesh and Guest of Honour, Dr. Munjpara Mahendrabhai, Hon’ble Minister of State, Ministry of Women and Child Development, GoI, in the presence of dignitaries including Smt. Rekha Sharma, Chairperson, NCW; Dr. Sunil Shukla, Director General, EDII; and Smt. Meenakshi Negi, Member Secretary, NCW.

The aim of the one-day EAP is to orient participating women to the benefits of adopting entrepreneurship as a career, learn the finer skills and overcome social, economic, and familial barriers to becoming entrepreneurs. The EAPs are aimed at developing entrepreneurial skills among women so that they could gain knowledge, skills and motivation to build their own businesses.

 

Speaking about the EAP, the Hon’ble Governor of MP, Shri Mangubhai Patel, said, “India is moving ahead with the vision of 'Sabka Saath Sabka Vikas'. Development under women-led leadership is coming up big way and is getting accepted and recognised. Women associated with the Self Help Groups are moving forward significantly. They are showing the confidence of speaking about their success, their enterprises and their future plans. Women have progressed phenomenally under the initiatives implemented by the country under the leadership of Hon'ble Prime Minister of the country. Rural areas have especially progressed with subsidy to women to set up enterprises. Under Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, training and development opportunities have opened up for women. I congratulate National Commission for Women and Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India for this extraordinary initiative towards women empowerment through entrepreneurship.”

Emphasizing on the need for a conducive environment for women entrepreneurs, Dr. Munjpara, said, “We have been working towards taking forward India's women-led development agenda by accelerating women's leadership and empowerment in public as well as private sector. Women who are the backbone of our society play a pivotal role in shaping our future. Empowering them is not only our moral responsibility but also a necessary condition for sustainable development. This collaboration between National Commission for Women and Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India will help build capacity of women entrepreneurs and also sensitize relevant stakeholders.”

Smt. Rekha Sharma said, “Women although are a critical part of society, still lag behind when it comes to economic empowerment and independence. Women need to be encouraged to become economically empowered. India has a conducive ecosystem to support women entrepreneurship. Given this, women are getting motivated to set up their MSMEs. Women entrepreneurs extend job opportunities to other women, and that is the need of the hour. Women need to speak about their success, network and step forth. I am sure with the support of Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII), all of this will be possible. If institutions like EDII handhold us in our endeavour, we will sure succeed.”

Speaking about the collaboration, Dr Sunil Shukla, said, “Over the last ten years, India has noticeably progressed and that has been possible only because the women populace of the country has been encouraged to become financially independent. I am happy to announce that NCW and EDII have collaborated to promote women entrepreneurship. This will strengthen the country immensely.”

About Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII)

The Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India (EDII), Ahmedabad was set up in 1983 as an autonomous and not-for-profit Institute with support of apex financial institutions - the IDBI Bank Ltd., IFCI Ltd., ICICI Bank Ltd. and State Bank of India (SBI). The Government of Gujarat pledged twenty-three acres of land on which stands the majestic and sprawling EDII Campus. EDII has been recognized as the CENTRE OF EXCELLENCE by the Ministry of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Govt. of India. The Institute has also been listed as the Institute of National Importance by the Education Department, Govt. of Gujarat. For more information visit: www.ediindia.org

About National Commission for Women

About National Commission for Women The National Commission for Women (NCW) was set up as statutory body in January 1992 under the National Commission for Women Act, 1990 (Act No.20 of 1990 of Govt. of India) to review the Constitutional and legal safeguards for women; recommend remedial legislative measures, facilitate redress of grievances and advise the Government on all policy matters affecting women. The mission of NCW is to strive towards enabling women to achieve equality and equal participation in all spheres of life by securing her due rights and entitlements through suitable policy formulation, legislative measures, effective enforcement of laws, implementation of schemes/policies and devising strategies for solution of specific problems/situations arising out of discrimination and atrocities against women.

To Empowers Women Entrepreneurs, EV Platform BLive Waives 50% Franchise Fees Across All Locations in India

The initiative is aimed at easing the financial entry barriers for women to own and lead a BLive franchise

The initiative will also help in minimising gender gaps in entrepreneurship and within the EV Industry, so as to create a more equitable and sustainable future

BLive, India's leading multi-brand EV platform has announced its latest initiative to promote women's empowerment in the EV industry. BLive is offering a unique opportunity for women-owned and women-run franchise partners to join the BLive family by waiving 50% of the franchise fees across all locations in India.

women franchise partners,  Anita Sonawane from Jalgaon, Maharashtra

Studies have demonstrated that entrepreneurial endeavours play a vital role in driving economic growth and generating employment opportunities for women, both in developing and high-income countries. This correlation directly stems from the fact that entrepreneurial activities contribute to the creation of new jobs for female entrepreneurs, their families, and their networks. Women bring diverse management, organisational, and business perspectives, offering a wide range of options for successful ventures.

Through this initiative, BLive aims to provide a platform for women to start their own businesses, build successful franchises and become leaders in the EV industry. By reducing the financial burden of franchise fees, BLive hopes to make it easier for women entrepreneurs to enter the EV industry and help them overcome the initial barriers to starting a business.

Elaborating further on the subject, Samarth Kholkar, CEO & Co-Founder, BLive, said, “Currently, 20% of our franchise partners are women and we are committed to raising this percentage and enabling more women to become our franchise owners and partners. Our focus on empowering women to become EV entrepreneurs is inclusive of Tier 2 and Tier 3 towns. This initiative is a significant step towards addressing the gender gap in the EV industry and empowering women to become leaders in this rapidly growing sector. With the demand for sustainable and eco-friendly transportation options on the rise, the EV industry in India is expected to grow exponentially in the coming years. This presents a huge opportunity for women entrepreneurs to take charge and become a part of this exciting and dynamic industry.”

Speaking about the initiative, one of BLive’s women franchise partners, Anita Sonawane from Jalgaon, Maharashtra said, “Partnering with BLive has been a fulfilling experience. The feeling of being your own boss is confidence-inspiring and makes you give your best towards making earnings. Electric mobility is not only the future; it is the present and it is here! This initiative is a great opportunity for more women like me to take a confident step towards owning our future.”

BLive has collaborated with a leading management institute to provide a women focussed management programme to upskill all women franchise partners.

Sharing his thoughts about the new initiative, Sandeep Mukherjee, Co-Founder, BLive said, “We are excited to launch this unique initiative to promote women's empowerment in the EV industry in India. We believe that by supporting women entrepreneurs, we can create a more equitable and sustainable future for all. We encourage women-owned and women-run businesses across India to take advantage of this opportunity and join the BLive family.”

About BLive

BLive is India’s first Multi-brand EV platform offering a wide range of EV products and services on a digital platform www.bliveEVstore.com. With over 40 brands listed on its platform, BLive offers an omnichannel experience to its buyers – an online E-commerce store and Premium experience stores pan India. BLive is rapidly expanding its presence pan India to 100 premium Multi-brand stores by 2024, offering E-Scooters/ E-cycles/ Delivery Ebikes and many more unique form factors, in line with its vision to accelerate the adoption of EVs. BLive facilitates EV adoption for personal usage as well as businesses by providing seamless Charging infrastructure, Post sales service as well as easy finance options to its customers.

Jayesh Ranjan Launches Women Entrepreneurs Club, WEDO Hyderabad Chapter at Business Women Expo 2023

Jayesh Ranjan seen unveiling the book cover of the book titled VISIONARY WOMEN COLLECTIVE at the WEDO meeting.  The book will be launched soon

Telangana Govt is planning to come out with a Single Window facility which will take care of all business women’s needs such as product validation and others: Jayesh Ranjan, Principle Secretary, Govt of Telangana

The facility will even have a centre at Mandal level to support rural women entrepreneurs: Jayesh Ranjan.

WEDO forays into Telangana State

It is no longer women empowerment, it is equality now: Kadambari Umapathy, Founder of WEDO

Women are very important for the success of women: Nawab Mir Nasir Ali Khan, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Kazakhstan

The Days of women associated with Papad, Pickle, and Masala making are over. I don’t demean them. But, what I want to convey is that women are for bigger things, high-value entrepreneurship, and breaking stereotypes work. They are into a high level of entrepreneurship now. They are breaking the status quo said Mr Jayesh Ranjan, Principal Secretary, Govt of Telangana, addressing a gathering of 500 plus women entrepreneurs.

Mr Ranjan was the Chief Guest at the function hosted by Chennai-based WEDO—Women Entrepreneurship Development Organization, a Chennai-based Pan-Indian accelerator exclusively for business women at Business Women Expo 2023, at Hitex on Sunday morning.

Jayesh Ranjan seen at the launch of Women Entrepreneur Club  WEDO Hyderabad Chapter at Business Women Expo 2023 at Hitex

Jayesh Ranjan

Nawab Mir Nasir Ali Khan, Honorary Consul of Republic of Kazakhstan for Telangana & AP seen with VISIONARY WOMEN AWARD WINNERS  at WEDO meet held at Business Women Expo at Hitex

WEDO forayed into Telangana. It launched the Women Entrepreneurs Club, WEDO Hyderabad Chapter through the hands of Mr Jayesh Ranjan.

The local chapter of WEDO will be an ideal platform for women entrepreneurs, aspirants, institutions and incubators, it was announced.

WEDO empowers women entrepreneurs by providing them with the right knowledge, right implementation strategies, mentoring and community support.

Speaking on the occasion Jayesh Ranjan said Telangana state is committed to nurturing women’s entrepreneurship. To take it to next level, the state will be coming out with a single-window facility to take care of all the needs and support required by women entrepreneurs.

Explaining salient features of the facility which is the first of its kind in India and which is slated for launch in a month’s time will have a support system which will validate the product in the very initial stages of its journey. If it has zero strength it will be told beforehand so that valuable time is saved.

Explaining further he added that it will provide every possible support such as branding, and packaging. This is open to all educated or illiterate across Telangana. The single window facility will even have its presence at the Mandal level to encourage and support rural women, and rural entrepreneurs. This is a milestone development. The back-end work is already happening. Mr KT Rao also shared about it recently at the International Women’s Day Celebration, he told the audience.

He told the women in the audience to create a voice collectively for their mutual growth.

Mr Ranjan also presented badges to Ms Sanjana Dubey, President of the Hyderabad Chapter of WEDO and Women Entrepreneurs Club.

Speaking on the occasion Ms Sanjana said, it already has got fifty-plus members joining the chapter and more are in the pipeline.

She introduced all the Hyderabad Chapter members to Mr Jayesh Ranjan, who welcomed them by presenting them with a Badge.

Mr Ranjan also unveiled the Cover of a book titled ‘Visionary Women Collective’. The book will be out soon in the market. The book will have stories of 100 worthy businesswomen in India.

Nawab Mir Nasir Ali Khan, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Kazakhstan for Telangana & Andhra Pradesh, who was guest of honour said though I am a diplomat, before that I am an entrepreneur. Women are very important for the success of any man. There are many women leaders in business and politics like former Prime Minister of India Smt Indira Gandhi. You all have a mettle and it is just a matter of time before you prove it.

He later gave away Visionary Women Awards to several distinguished women from across India.

Kadambari Umapathy  Founder of WEDO

Giving her welcome address Kadambari Umapathy, Founder of WEDO said it is no longer an issue of women’s empowerment. It is the time for equality. Both men and women are equal and partners in each other’s progress. Let us together work and contribute to the development of our great nation. Let us together grow.

WEDO organised day-long sessions that include Art of Raising Capital; Top 10 Legal Know-Hows for Women; Storytelling etc by World Storytelling Championship; Insights on Property Investments by a specialist, Visionary women collective launch, a session on Payment gateway "Ippo Pay", a session on 'Art of Raising Capital. This session was taken by a Fundenable Investment Specialist.