Kotak Mahindra Bank Ltd., an Indian private sector lender, and NSRCEL-IIM Bangalore have started the fifth cohort of their Women Startup Program. This initiative is part of Kotak Mahindra Bank’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) commitment to Education & Livelihood. It aims to empower aspiring female entrepreneurs across India by supporting them in building scalable businesses.
Women Startup Program Goals
The Women Startup Program focuses on nurturing entrepreneurial and managerial skills in women. It helps them develop successful enterprises, contributing to economic growth and job creation across the country.
Impact and Achievements
Since it began, the Women Startup Program has helped over 23,053 women entrepreneurs from various sectors, including technology, social impact, agriculture, retail, healthcare, energy, environment, textile, and apparel. These entrepreneurs represent 24 states across India. The program has provided incubation support to more than 590 ventures, leading to the creation of 2,083 jobs.
Anand Sri Ganesh, CEO of NSRCEL, stated, “With the support of Kotak Mahindra Bank, we have made a significant impact on India’s economy by fostering innovation and entrepreneurship. This program supports ventures in major urban centres and tier 2 and tier 3 regions, driving economic growth and creating job opportunities. By supporting women entrepreneurs, we empower individuals and contribute to the broader economic development of our nation.”
Program Structure and Phases
The fifth edition of the Women Startup Program will start with a 5-week Foundation of Entrepreneurship (FOE) course. This will be followed by a 2-month virtual pre-incubation phase for prototype development. Successful candidates will then enter a 5-month incubation period at NSRCEL to scale their ventures.
The program supports entrepreneurs at various stages—from ideation to revenue generation—offering tailored support through pre-incubation, incubation, and acceleration phases. A dedicated accelerator cohort will focus on crafts, technology, and healthcare/life sciences, with a new option for lateral entry at any stage based on the venture’s suitability.
Financial and Educational Support
A total of Rs 3 crore will be given to the top-performing ventures based on their achievements, providing crucial financial support to advance their projects. Participants will receive structured learning in business planning, marketing, finance, and operations. They will benefit from mentorship by experienced entrepreneurs and industry experts, as well as networking opportunities with other women entrepreneurs and leaders in various fields.
The program also grants access to IIM Bangalore’s faculty, infrastructure, startup kits, and comprehensive legal advice on intellectual property. Additionally, the program will collaborate with 12 esteemed institutions, including IIMs, IITs, other incubation centres, and universities, to enhance its nationwide impact through comprehensive business mentoring.
The partnership between Kotak Mahindra Bank and NSRCEL-IIM Bangalore for the Women Startup Program aims to support and empower female entrepreneurs across India. With structured learning, financial support, and extensive mentorship, this initiative is set to drive economic growth and create job opportunities, benefiting the broader economy and fostering innovation in various sectors.
