EmpowHer 1.0 Programme Boosts Womenpreneurship in Tamil Nadu

By: WE Staff | Monday, 23 March 2026

• EmpowHer 1.0 Programme Launched to Empower Women Entrepreneurs in Tamil Nadu
• The program has been initiated by StartupTN and the TNWeSafe Project
• Aims aims at developing skills among women entrepreneurs

The EmpowHer 1.0 project is a partnership between Startup Tennessee and the TN We Safe Project to create avenues for participants to receive training and development support and further develop women entrepreneurs.

The long-term vision of this program is to build a network of 6000 women entrepreneurs in Tamil Nadu, which demonstrates a serious commitment to increasing the number of women-owned businesses in Tamil Nadu, and aligns with the strategic goals set forth by the government of Tamil Nadu to support a strong economic development base.

With Tamil Nadu being one of the top industrialized regions in India; coupled with Chennai being described as "the Detroit of India" because of its large-scale automobile manufacturing operations, there exists the potential for significant impact from women's contributions to the economic growth of the state.

The current level of progress with EmpowHer 1.0 to date has been significant, as 160 women entrepreneurs have been identified to date from within the districts of Chennai, Kanchipuram, Chengalpattu and Tiruvallur Districts to participate in the program.

The application process was designed to allow for maximum motivation of the candidates to participate in this program. The main goal of the program is to help participants develop a business idea and improve their skills as entrepreneurs.

The training will cover a variety of subjects,(e.g., business plans, financial literacy and access to markets) in addition to focusing on basic leadership skills for creating opportunities for women to become involved in the decision-making process and grow their businesses. This type of training and capacity-building will help support the increased participation of women in the formal economy.

As the state’s primary agency responsible for promoting startup initiatives, StartupTN provides many types of mentoring and ecosystem support, including connecting entrepreneurs with investors, incubators and industry partners.

On the other hand, the TNWeSafe Project’s target population is comprised of women; the purpose of this project is to create safe and empowering environments in which women can start businesses.

EmpowHer 1.0 is expected to contribute to the development of women’s businesses and create district-level jobs. Participants from various districts are expected to promote balanced regional development through participation. Over time this will strengthen Tamil Nadu’s position as a significant contributor to women’s entrepreneurship.