IIM-Bangalore Inaugurates ‘Women Start-up Programme'

N.S Raghavan Center for Entrepreneurial Learning (NSRCEL) of Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore inaugurated the Women Startup Programme on 23rd January, 2017. A total number of 50 women entrepreneurs have been selected for the second stage of the programme. The programme was launched by NSRCEL of IIM-B in collaboration with Goldman Sachs. The primary objective of this startup programme is to encourage the women entrepreneurs who have an idea and wish to start their venture independently.

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Therefore, the programme helps women to develop entrepreneurial skills and managerial skills. The participants of this programme will undergo mentoring during the training period. Further, they will be given an opportunity to incubate new ideas and select the best projects.

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The programme is, therefore, being conducted and delivered in three stages. In stage 1, around 1,700 women took part in a five-week Massive Open Online Course (MOOC). The participants were trained in various aspects of entrepreneurship which included evaluation and identification. The name of the online course was ‘Do your venture'. Through this course, the participants were given an opportunity to identify the idea and initiate their venture.

A total number of two mentor panels assessed the ideas of participants. The participants had submitted a two-minute video pitch of their idea, and a total number of 300 ideas were assessed out of which 50 top ideas have been selected for the next stage of the programme.

A sum of Rs. 40,000 will be provided as a fellowship to the selected ideas for 12 months. The participants who have been shortlisted will additionally get a chance to interact with the officials of Goldman Sachs. They will also associate with 25 potential customers every week. After holding interactions with the customers, the participants will modify their proposals as per the feedback that they receive.