IIMB launches start-up programme for women

The NS Raghavan Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning (NSRCEL) at Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIMB) launched nationwide "Women Start-up Programme (WSP)” recently.  The initiative is being funded by Goldman Sachs and the Department of Science & Technology (DST), Government of India. 

WSP is India’s first customised online and classroom initiative designed to enthuse aspiring female entrepreneurs-in-the-making across the country. The programme seeks to facilitate the growth of women entrepreneurs by providing in-depth training to foster and augment managerial and entrepreneurial skills through mentoring, incubation, and financial support.

This year the WSP will provide training to up to 12,000 women through its five-week “Do Your Venture” Massive Open Online Course (MOOC). 

Thereafter, 300 women entrepreneurs-to-be will be shortlisted for a boot camp to be held at partner campuses in the towns nearest to them. From the 300 ventures, a select 100 women entrepreneurs will then travel to IIMB for a second boot camp, where they will receive classroom instructions on developing a business plan, understanding costing and pricing, sales and marketing, and negotiation skills. After the completion of the boot camp, these women entrepreneurs will have their business ideas incubated for a year at a partner institution of their choice where each women will also receive Rs 30,000 per month for financial support and funding from a small prototype fund to run their ventures. 

Visit http://wsp.nsrcel.org  for registration.  — TNS