Starting a business and living the good life is the dream of many. But, the reality is that the entrepreneurs don’t have it easy, especially in the early days. And, the situation is even more challenging for women entering the field. Keeping this in mind, a yatra was recently held in Panjim.
DiscoverShe, an initiative launched by I-Venture @ ISB, the entrepreneurship arm of the Indian School of Business (ISB), kicked off its inaugural yatra on March 21, 2024, in Miramar, Panjim, Goa.
The yatra, held in collaboration with partners, including ASSOCHAM, GCCI Women's Wing, Go Womania, and Tarang Goa, brought together women micro-entrepreneurs from across Goa for a 2-day comprehensive boot camp.
Recognising the unique challenges faced by women micro-entrepreneurs in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities in India, DiscoverShe strives to support these women, unleash their potential, and transform their dreams into reality.
Recognising the unique challenges faced by women micro-entrepreneurs in Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities in India, DiscoverShe strives to support these women, unleash their potential, and transform their dreams into reality.
Limited access to capital, infrastructure constraints, and socio-cultural barriers often stand in their way, with banks hesitant to lend without collateral and market linkages being scarce.
DiscoverShe aims to bridge these gaps and provide support where it's needed the most.
Representatives from the partners included Chairperson of the Women Empowerment & Development Committee, ASSOCHAM Goa Council Pallavi Salgaocar; Chairperson, GCCI Women's Wing, Asha Arondekar; Founder, Go Womania, Siya Shaikh; and Founder & CEO, Tarang Goa, Sweta Chari.
Pallavi Salgaocar said, “I truly believe that initiatives like DiscoverShe will empower women micro-entrepreneurs by providing them with the necessary support, making it an essential pillar for building a more equitable and prosperous future for Goa.”
“We empower women in Goa in different ways, and collaborating with ISB’s DiscoverShe is a great way to change the mindset to a growth mindset, and empower women,” expressed Asha Arondekar.
Siya Shaikh said, “ISB's first boot camp is a gateway for micro-entrepreneurs in Goa, offering expert insights from global startup leaders, nurturing women’s potential to propel progress and create a more inclusive platform.”
Faculty Director, I-Venture @ ISB, Prof Bhagwan Chowdhry said, “DiscoverShe's Miramar yatra provided an excellent platform for women entrepreneurs to network, learn and grow. This event marked the beginning of an exciting journey towards fostering collaboration, raising awareness, and building a supportive ecosystem for women-led enterprises across India.”
Experts who shared their insights at DiscoverShe included President, Chamber for Advancement of Small and Medium Businesses (CASMB), Nilesh Lele; and co-founder, The Better India, Anuradha Kedia.
Other notable personalities who spoke were Director, Maker's Asylum, Richa Shrivastava; interim CEO, FiiRE, Thejus Joseph; CEO, Energy Swaraj Foundation, Rahul Bahadur; and Incubation Manager, AIC GIM, Abhishek Singh.
The 2-day boot camp offered a diverse range of sessions aimed at equipping participants with essential entrepreneurial skills, including Mindset Building, Business Model Canvas, Packaging, Pricing Strategy and Funding Options, Peer Group Activity: Tear down, Refine, Pitch Prep, Social Media and Content, and Introduction to DPR.
