Tag: women entrepreneurs

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Startup

Google India Partners with Sheroes to Support 500 Rural Women Entrepreneurs in India; All You Need to Know About the Programme

Rural women entrepreneurs

New Delhi, December 22: In a bid to support rural women entrepreneurs in India, Google India on Monday said it has partnered with Sheroes to support 500 women entrepreneurs by connecting them with experts and enabling access to resources, guidance and mentorship. In 2019, Google had started a small pilot for an accelerator programme for 10 women entrepreneurs in rural India across its Internet Saathi network. The programme by the tech giant is centered on solving for basic business issues like customer acquisition, selling and marketing, digital presence, management and self-confidence.

Google has now joined hands with Sheroes to scale this to 500 rural women entrepreneurs. Under the initiative, the tech giant would connect them with experts, urban women entrepreneurs in the same or adjacent industries and enabling access to the right resources, guidance and mentorship over a six-month period. Kerala-Based Startup Inks Pact With UN Women’s Empowerment Principles to Train, Promote and Empower Women.

In a statement, Google India said within three months, there was a rise in confidence among the participants and the women went back and applied the learning to their businesses. It stated that 80 percent of them started working on their digital presence and one of the participants had a working website within months. In a separate statement, Google said it has launched new insight tools for the travel industry.

In 2015, the Internet Saathi programme was initiated in collaboration with Tata Trusts to bring basic digital literacy skills to women in Indian villages and have them become informal teachers for other women in their communities. Since then, the programme has touched over 30 million women across the country.

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Startup

Kerala-Based Startup Inks Pact With UN Women’s Empowerment Principles to Train, Promote and Empower Women

Women Entrepreneurs in India (Photo Credits: Pixabay)

Thiruvananthapuram, December 21: With an aim to empower women, a Kerala-based startup has inked an agreement with the United Nations Women’s Empowerment Principles. This is for the first time that a woman majority startup named Vydyuthi Energy Services (VES) has signed an agreement with the United Nations body. With the signing of the agreement, the VES will establish high-level corporate leadership for gender equality, promote education, training and professional development for women. It will also implement enterprise development, supply chain and marketing practices that has the capability to empower women, promote equality through community initiatives and publicly report on progress to achieve gender equality.

In India, Kerala is already in the top list of the Niti Aayog for implementing the United Nations Women’s Empowerment Principles. According to a report by IANS, of the 170 companies from India which had signed for the United Nations Women’s Empowerment Principles, 64 companies are from the private sector. The Vydyuthi Energy Services is the 65th company from India and the first from Kerala to have signed the pact.

As per details available, at Vydyuthi Energy Services (VES), the woman help businesses and organizations across sectors to identify energy efficiency drivers and enable them to adopt viable action plans. The start-up firm was established by an NRI, Anoop Babu from Thiruvananthapuram. Meanwhile, Kerala State Electricity Board Energy Efficiency Department is the patron head of VES. The founder, i.e. Babu has a vast experience in the renewable energy sector and is involved in multinational projects in various countries, including the Middle East.

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Startup

Planning to Start a Business? Here are 4 Tips for Women to Become Successful Entrepreneurs

Women Entrepreneurs (Photo Credits: Pexels)

Starting a business is not easy. One has to really think out of the box to become a known and successful entrepreneur. When it comes to creative thinking, women are no less! Female entrepreneurs can do wonders if they are given the right guidance and motivation they need. Right from picking up a business idea, creating a business module to funding, a woman can become a successful entrepreneur in no time.

According to research, entrepreneurship rates among women increased by 13 percent versus 5 percent for men, according to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), which monitors 40 economies from around the world. Female entrepreneurship is growing with each passing but it still has a long way to go. Here are four tips that will empower you to get started today. 5 Schemes Focused on Development of Women Entrepreneurs in India.

Love What You Do

When you are planning to start a new business, keep in mind that you will have to pick a business that you love. Ultimately, you will work with passion for things that you love and wish to do. So, choose a business that you think you will never lose your interest in! As yourself, what are you completely and absolutely passionate about? Maybe it’s a hobby or maybe there is something you’ve been longing to do. When we feel completely and utterly passionate, there is no room for judgment.

Believe in yourself

Sometimes, we doubt our own skills. We often underestimate our talent that leads to failure and rejections. You should always let your passion burn brighter than your fears. Keep in mind that the only thing that you have that no one else has is ‘you’. Your dreams, your passion, your power and the world will be yours. You just need to do one thing- that is, to believe in yourself.

Never give up

Failure is just a part of the deal. If you are afraid of rejections, you will always face hurdles in your business because you are not open to learning new things. This will however, hinder your growth in the long run. For becoming a successful entrepreneurship, all you need to do is keep trying. The formation of great companies like Amazon, Facebook, Google are classic examples of motivating us never to give up on our ideas. Don’t quit. Keep going.

Get feedback

Where there is love and inspiration, you can never go wrong. But you should keep on asking people for feedback. Feedback is critical to validate your business and its reach. It can also help you understand what customers want. You should read reviews, find articles and interact with them to develop and good understanding. Pay particular mind to negative reviews and ask people specifically what they wish they were getting out of the product.

 

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Startup

IESC Signs Pact With FLO to Provide Guidance to Startups and Women Entrepreneurs in Becoming Job Creators

Women Entrepreneurship (Photo Credits: Pexels)

New Delhi, November 23: In a bid to provide guidance and to mentor startups and entrepreneurs to grow, the Incubation and Enterprise Support Centre (IESC) of IIM Shillong has signed an MoU with FICCI Ladies Organisation (FLO). Reports inform that the IESC chairperson Sanjeeb Kakoty and FLO national president Jahnabi Phookan signed the deal for their respective organisations on Saturday. The pact is signed with the mission to generate and disseminate knowledge in all aspects of management for sustainable development and to develop innovative leaders with strong ethical values.

Under the pact, entrepreneurs who are a critical stages of starting up a new business will get nurturing, instructive and supportive environment which would increase the chance for a startups to succeed. The mentorship would shorten the time and reduce the cost of establishing and growing its business, the IIM said in a statement issued here. The new pact between two very influential organizations is just the right boost at the right time particularly for women entrepreneurs of the region.

Talking about the importance of women, particularly those in the northeastern part of India, in safeguarding the rich culture and traditions of the people, Prof Sanjeeb Kakoty felt that women were also very much responsible for keeping alive the entrepreneurial nature and spirit emanating from the region. Speaking about the work of FLO, Phookan elaborated that FLO’s vision under her presidency is to focus on ensuring sustainable practices and creating sustainable livelihoods for the economic empowerment of women towards becoming sufficient job creators than just mere job seekers.

IIM Shillong chairman Shishir Bajoria expressed confidence that this initiative could be a defining moment in impacting firstly the region and then beyond, in line with the responsibility bestowed on this premier institute of national importance in the region.

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Startup

5 Schemes Focused on Development of Women Entrepreneurs in India

Women Entrepreneurs in India (Photo Credits: Pixabay)

The Indian startup ecosystem is thriving successfully. For the past few years many entrepreneurs have emerged and established their business across the industries with much success, giving tough competition to the existing stalwarts. Not only men, Indian women are progressively moving the bandwagon on entrepreneurship forward. Women have been fraying well in the start-up community, starting, sustaining and succeeding in various businesses ranging from food to clothing, entertainment to event planning, tech to handicrafts. They have been proving their worth in the business sphere.

Keeping in view the enthusiasm and determination of the women entrepreneurs, the government has launched various schemes to support and encourage them. The aim is to motivate more and more women to enter the business sector, have their start-ups and fulfil their dreams. Quick finance, loans and other facilities are provided to women at easy and flexible terms and conditions, so that they can start and sustain their businesses.

Here are five schemes that are offered for the development of women entrepreneurs in India-

  1. Stree Shakti Package For Women Entrepreneurs

The scheme is offered by the State Bank of India and its branches. Under this loans up to Rs 50 Lakh are sanctioned to women entrepreneurs who have at least 50 per cent share in the ownership of a firm0020vvvv0072 or business and have taken part in the state agencies run Entrepreneurship Development Programmes (EDP). If the loan exceeds Rs 2 Lakh, a 0.50 per cent concession is granted on the rate of interest.

  1. Annapurna Scheme

Offered by the State bank of Mysore, this scheme is available to women entrepreneurs who have started or plan to start a food catering business. The loan can be utilised for buying various goods required in the business including kitchen equipments. A loan up to Rs 50,000 is sanctioned under the scheme. The loan can be paid back in 36 instalments. The interested charged as per prevailing rates. To secure the loan the candidate needs guarantor and has to offer some asset as collateral.

  1. Dena Shakti Scheme

The scheme is offered by Dena Bank. Under this, women who plan to start businesses in various sectors including agriculture, manufacturing, micro-credit, retail are provided loans. A loan up to Rs 20 Lakh can be sanctioned under this scheme There is a concession of 0.25 percent on rate of interest. Under the scheme, loans up to Rs 50,000 are offered under the microcredit category.

  1. Udyogini Scheme

This scheme is offered by Punjab and Sind Bank to the women entrepreneurs involved in Agriculture, retail and small business enterprises to get loans for business at flexible terms and concessional interest rates. The maximum amount of loan under this scheme for women between the age brackets of 18-45 years is Rs 1 Lakh but the candidate’s family income is also taken into consideration and is set at Rs 45,000 per annum for SC/ST women. For widowed, destitute or disabled women from SC/ST categories, a subsidy of 30 per cent of the loan, up to Rs 10,000, is provided.

  1. Mudra Yojana Scheme for Women

This scheme is offered by the Government of India for women who want to start small new enterprises and businesses including beauty parlours, tailoring units, tuition centres, among others. There are three schemes under it each with different criteria for loan sanction. Firstly, Shishu Scheme, where loan up to Rs 50,000 is sanctioned to women to fund the initial stages of the business. Secondly, Kishor Scheme, here the loan amount ranges from Rs 50,000 to Rs 5 Lakh and is offered to well-established women enterprise. Lastly, Tarun Scheme here loan amount is Rs 10 Lakh and is offered to established business looking for expansion and diversification.

Apart from them, various other schemes for the development of women entrepreneurs are being offered by several organisations in the markets. The main aim of such schemes is to ensure financial support to women entrepreneurs to help establish the business and keep it afloat in later stages.

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Startup

Women Entrepreneurs in COVID-19: From Starting New Business, Closing Funding Deals to Innovating, Here Are the Women Who Saw Opportunity in Adversity

Women entrepreneurs
Women entrepreneurs (Photo Credits: Pikist)

New Delhi, October 22: The coronavirus pandemic has caused a devastating effect on the economy. From job losses to factories being shut, people across the world were impacted by COVID-19. However, in spite of this, there is also a positive side where few women entrepreneurs took the challenging market condition as an opportunity and flourished amid the pandemic.

We bring to you a list of few entrepreneurs who dared to dream in spite of the negativity and gloom. Here are stories of some women entrepreneurs sailing amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Boju’s Kitchen:

Amid the pandemic, we saw how several women started delivering food and helping others when most restaurants and other food delivery options were not available. One of them was 23-year-old Chitrangadha Gupta who along with her mother and grandmother, started a sought after momos making and delivery service under the name Boju’s kitchen. She started the venture with just an initial investment of Rs 2,000. From around 6-7 orders per day, her business now caters to over 30 orders and delivers across Delhi.

NOTO:

Mumbai based startup launched NOTO, an ice cream brand that specialises in making healthy, low-calorie, low sugar, and high-protein ice cream in May 2019. Entrepreneurs Ashni Seth raised an undisclosed amount of funding as part of a Pre-Seed round led by WEH Ventures, with participation from Lead Angels, in July 2020.

Enklose: 

Rakhi Khera founded Abiti Bella Enterprises in 2014 and has been generating good revenue. However, amid the pandemic, her business incurred major losses and was not able to earn a single penny. It was then that Khera came up with the idea of Enklose, a coverall that can be used by domestic maids, beauty salon workers, and hotel employees. It is a cost-effective, reusable, and washable overall.

Ni-Varak:

Ni-Varak is a contactless mobile-based thermometer. The need for wide-screening of body temperatures during the pandemic fueled its invention. Using the Internet of Things (IoT) technology, it enables a contactless way of measuring temperatures, along with geo-location and time. It is the brainchild of Chinnayya Math and Vaishali Chinnayya.

These women are an inspiration for others who want to start something of their own but are sceptical. Their determination, innovative idea and zeal to become successful have helped them see success amid the pandemic.

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Startup

Who Run The World – Women: 5 Home-Based Business Ideas For You

Running a business requires passion, motivation, and lots of initial funds for building your brand and running your company. But, the lack of money can be a reason to stop passionate entrepreneurs. Every business begins on a small scale, and your effort can build a company into a big empire.

Women play many roles in one life and always dream of achieving big. If she dreams of an entrepreneur, then nobody can stop you. In today’s environment, starting a new business can be a little easy with easy access to the internet, technology can help you establish her business quicker and easier than before.

Let’s discuss the popular business idea with women

Open a Popular Thrift store

Yes, you may call it a western culture of thrift store but, this culture is making strong grounds in our country too. Few brands like ‘The Salvage Story, Collections Reloved owned by women who are running successfully. Fast-changing fashion letting the consumer be more excited which make them turn to thrift stores for their requirement.

Social Media can play a significant role in building the brand, and a huge customer list, with this circle of friends and family, can help you certainly in growth.

Turn Newspapers into Bags

When the whole world is working hard towards the use of single-use plastic, therefore many brands and stores are moving towards more use eco- friendly bags like cloth and paper bags.

This brings the increasing demand for such options; one can always start a small-scale venture by converting your newspaper into bags and start selling them to a different store.

Start Online Tutoring

We know the internet has changed our lifestyle to the core now learning online is also a thing, then why you don’t use your talent to educate people. Video calls and online classes have an equal impact, like face-to-face classes.

This business idea only involves investment in IT infrastructure and great knowledge of classes you plan to teach.

Start a Day Care Centre

Another option for women who wish to business women, for then we have a business idea for you in which you just need to be responsible and caring towards children. We have a lot of couples who work and demand quality and good day-care service.

This idea will involve basic investment in setting up a day-care and hiring help. The Flexi loan is enough to meet the requirement for running, such as the facility.

Go Organic with Urban Farming

You have a big house or flat and have extra space in your house then you can step into urban farming which can turn out to be a profitable business idea. Herb farming is a new trend like organic farming both are witnessing a surge in demand. This farming is not limited to fruits, herbs you can start with the flowers also.

This idea can be run staying home and market with the help of social media, friends, and family. But like we said before you should have a keen interest and passion for it for making successful.

We have mentioned just a few business ideas for you, which you can run being home as well. But as we say, women can be great business leaders and innovators because they know how to manage each responsibility with great skill.

 

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Business motivation

You Can, You Will – 4 Solutions For Women Entrepreneurs to Ensure Business Growth

Once you believe in yourself to make sure you can lead your team on the road to success, with your leadership, then you can take your venture to the heights. In the past few years, women entrepreneurship has experienced significant growth. Women make up nearly half the population in our country, still only 14 percent of businesses run by women.

By the efforts done by the government focusing on women entrepreneurship, there is a huge path forward for women entrepreneurs of tomorrow.

Let’s have a look at some of the steps for women entrepreneurs to kick start their business.

Assuring your Finance Access

A major setback for women who run a business is access to finance. Generally, women face difficulty in finding to come up with guarantors for the loans as the most assets are under their name. As we know, both banks provide collateral-free loans to women entrepreneurs.

But information regarding this tough to access and make it a huge challenge to secure these loans. Here when technology solutions should be provided and given complete knowledge about it.

Ensuring Constant Skill Development

Skill development is important for everyone as it enhances your productivity and gives you the right direction. Being an entrepreneur skill is a significant factor, therefore ensuring to provide knowledge and skills for yourself is important for running a successful business.

We need to provide a digital solution through online courses centric solution for women entrepreneurs. In the times where formal education can be a challenge to balance in day to day life, but technology solution provides an opportunity and make learning easy.

Bring Women Entrepreneur Online

As per the few studies, only 30 percent of female entrepreneurs use the internet, and less than one-third of Indian MSMEs are online. Bringing them online will provide immense opportunities for them to reach out to their target audience. This solution allows women, entrepreneur to access to online learning, bring their business on the social media platform, and access to government e-services.

Therefore, one step can bring so many solutions to benefit women entrepreneurs.

Catering Specific Requirements Of Indian Women Entrepreneurs

Today in our society where women entrepreneurs face not one but many hurdles and challenges which is not yet addressed. Providing solutions to these problems can help them in their growth as well as business.
Currently, available technology solutions can provide adapted to address their needs and problems which they face every day.

Helping women entrepreneurs will not help in their venture growth, but also their personal growth too. By leveraging, technology and connectivity will help them to work from home and cancels long travelling issues. These are a few solutions that can help women entrepreneurs grow in our country and give a platform to show their great leadership skills.

 

 

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E-Commerce MSME Startup Strategy

Amazon India Helps Women Entrepreneurs, Artisans and Weavers to Double Their Sales in 10 Weeks Under ‘Stand for Handmade’ Initiative

Amazon India. (Photo Credit: Image grab)
Amazon India. (Photo Credit: Image grab)

Bengaluru, September 23: Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, Amazon India came up with ‘Stand for Handmade’ initiative, to help over 10 lakh artisans and weavers and women entrepreneurs. On Monday, the e-commerce portal stated that customers from more than 12,000 pincodes in India purchased a product from the ‘Stand for Handmade’ store front. Due to this, artisans, weavers and women entrepreneurs were helped to double their sales in the 10-week period.

Amazon further added that the ‘Stand for Handmade’ initiative enabled sellers from Amazon Karigar — for weavers and artisans and Amazon Saheli — for women entrepreneurs — to register 3.2 times and 2.1 times growth. Adding more, it said that 32 sellers crossed Rs 1 lakh in sales during the 10-week period while two sellers crossed Rs 1 crore in sales.

Issuing a statement, Director of MSME and Seller Experience at Amazon India — Pranav Bhasin — said, “We are humbled by the response to this initiative as customers from more than 12,000 pincodes purchased a product from the specially-curated store front. With the festive season coming up, we remain focused on helping our sellers further accelerate and grow their business.”

Bhasin added that more than 200 new sellers joined the Karigar programme and benefited from 100 per cent SoA (sell on Amazon) fee waiver. Categories which witnessed the highest overall sales included apparel, grocery and home decor. Also, 508 Sambalpuri weaver families from Orissa were able to seller sarees than could span over 17,738 yards while more than 4,500 Pochampally weavers from 56 villages of Telangana have recovered and were able to resume their handloom weaving business.

Amazon said, “More than 5,200 weavers from Bengal are now back to weaving exquisite weaves on their looms and the lives of 200 Banarasi weavers were positively impacted through sales of handloom Dupattas and Sarees.” It added that more than 8 lakh artisans and weavers from Amazon Karigar program and more than 2.8 lakh women entrepreneurs from Amazon Saheli program benefited from a 100 per cent SoA fee waiver for 10 weeks.

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Business motivation Strategy

Visa, IFundWomen Announce Grant Programme to Empower Women Entrepreneurs in India

Entrepreneur (Photo Credits: Pexels)

Mumbai, September 21: With an aim to empower women entrepreneurs in India, Visa along with its global partner IFundWomen on Monday rolled out a grant programme to boost the morale of women entrepreneurs across the country. According to a report by IANS, the digital payments technology leader will seek applications from women entrepreneurs across all sectors till October 20, 2020. IfundWomen is the go-to marketplace for women-owned businesses. The applicants need to submit details about their business and online presence, along with a short video about their business to www.ifundwomen.com/visa-india. Three winners will be selected and receive grants of Rs 7 lakh each and training from leaders within the Visa and IFundWomen network.

Women-owned businesses constitute around 14 percent of the total entrepreneur base in India. To spread the word, Visa said it has partnered with FLO (the ladies’ wing of FICCI) and Instamojo as digitisation partner for the programme in the country. T R Ramachandran, Group Country Manager, India and South Asia, Visa, said, “We want to see this number increase but our interactions with women entrepreneurs show that access to capital to fund, run and grow their businesses remains a challenge”.

The Visa and IFundWomen grant programme in India, the first outside of the US, “aims to boost female entrepreneurship and empower budding businesswomen through our network, guidance, financial support and resources to help achieve their dreams”, he added.

Visa’s partnership with IFundWomen is specifically designed to help women entrepreneurs secure the funding they need through a series of grants. This year in June, Visa had committed to supporting 50 million small businesses globally to power recovery and enable them digitally. In August 2020, through the first India edition of Visa Everywhere Initiative, it awarded three fintech startups with monetary awards and technological support to take their solutions to market, the company said.