 "Nurturing women entrepreneurs in the northern region")
To boost the culture of entrepreneurship among women in northern India, organisations such as Chandigarh-based Start-up Accelerator Chamber of Commerce (SACC), Confederation of Indian Industry's Young Indians (CII's Yi) and Noida-based Sheroes.in have started organising mentorship programmes that bring together successful entrepreneurs and youngsters who plan to start their own businesses.
Taking a step in this direction, as a precursor to the first all-women Start-up Weekend to be organised in Chandigarh next year, SACC organised a boot camp for women entrepreneurs recently, in which over 60 women entrepreneurs participated.
"Through these camps we want to foster entrepreneurship among youngsters, especially women. They have ideas and vision, but many of them are clueless about how to go ahead. Through these workshops we intend to boost their entrepreneurial ability. In these programmes founders of businesses and wannabe founders share their experiences, help each other and collaborate if the idea is feasible," Nitika Mishra, co-chair of SACC's women entrepreneurs committee, told Business Standard.
Also, recently, CII's Young Indians organised an interactive session with well-known women entrepreneurs from Chandigarh. The session was held as a part of Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW).
GEW is the world's largest celebration of innovators and job creators, who launch start-ups that bring ideas to life and drive economic growth. During one week each November, GEW inspires people everywhere through local, national and global activities designed to help them explore their potential as self-starters and innovators. Young Indians is GEW's official partner in India.
Amit Chugh, co-chair, Yi Chandigarh tri-city chapter, said, "To encourage student entrepreneurs, we are organising 'Quick Start-ups: Beyond Selling Lemonades' for school students." (Tri-city refers to Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula.)
Likewise, Noida-based Sheroes.in also organised 'Sheroes in Your City at Chandigarh', the annual 'women at work' conference. Sheroes.in is a community for women that seeks to enhance entrepreneurship opportunities for women.
It has launched an initiative to connect women with mentors. It already runs a mentorship programme online and wants to rope in more women who are just beginning their careers, offering them a chance to connect with experienced women who are keen to share their knowledge and network with rising young professionals. The programme will run in partnership with schools, colleges, women's organisations and corporates.
Taking a step in this direction, as a precursor to the first all-women Start-up Weekend to be organised in Chandigarh next year, SACC organised a boot camp for women entrepreneurs recently, in which over 60 women entrepreneurs participated.
"Through these camps we want to foster entrepreneurship among youngsters, especially women. They have ideas and vision, but many of them are clueless about how to go ahead. Through these workshops we intend to boost their entrepreneurial ability. In these programmes founders of businesses and wannabe founders share their experiences, help each other and collaborate if the idea is feasible," Nitika Mishra, co-chair of SACC's women entrepreneurs committee, told Business Standard.
More From This Section
SACC has built a network of mentors and investors who work with young start-ups that emerge out of Startup Weekend events or even directly from various colleges, to accelerate the process of setting up enterprises. It is working closely with various institutions to set up entrepreneurship development centres, having recently signed a memorandum of understanding with Punjab-based Shaheed Udham Singh Group of educational institutions for setting up a start-up hub.
Also, recently, CII's Young Indians organised an interactive session with well-known women entrepreneurs from Chandigarh. The session was held as a part of Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW).
GEW is the world's largest celebration of innovators and job creators, who launch start-ups that bring ideas to life and drive economic growth. During one week each November, GEW inspires people everywhere through local, national and global activities designed to help them explore their potential as self-starters and innovators. Young Indians is GEW's official partner in India.
Amit Chugh, co-chair, Yi Chandigarh tri-city chapter, said, "To encourage student entrepreneurs, we are organising 'Quick Start-ups: Beyond Selling Lemonades' for school students." (Tri-city refers to Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula.)
Likewise, Noida-based Sheroes.in also organised 'Sheroes in Your City at Chandigarh', the annual 'women at work' conference. Sheroes.in is a community for women that seeks to enhance entrepreneurship opportunities for women.
It has launched an initiative to connect women with mentors. It already runs a mentorship programme online and wants to rope in more women who are just beginning their careers, offering them a chance to connect with experienced women who are keen to share their knowledge and network with rising young professionals. The programme will run in partnership with schools, colleges, women's organisations and corporates.