Karnataka Signs MoU with FICCI FLO to Boost Women-Led Startups

By: Women Entrepreneurs Review Team | Tuesday, 4 August 2026

The Karnataka government on 3rd August signed an MoU with FICCI FLO Bengaluru and the FLO Bengaluru Industrial Park Association to augment the support for women entrepreneurs in startups and manufacturing. 

The collaboration has been established to provide more opportunities for women entrepreneurs in accessing government programs, mentorship, funding, industry connect and manufacturing infrastructure, officials said. FICCI FLO Bengaluru is the women wing of Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). 

As per officials, the MoU signed by the Department of Electronics, IT, Biotechnology and Science & Technology will help boost the women entrepreneurs in startups, technology and manufacturing businesses and also help to take the women-led startups to the various flagship Government programs like ELEVATE, provide access to mentoring, market access initiatives, patent reimbursement and capacity building programs for women entrepreneurs. 

Key Highlights: 

• Karnataka signed an MoU with FICCI FLO to support women entrepreneurs 
• The partnership will improve access to funding, mentorship, and government schemes 
• The initiative aims to strengthen women-led startups and manufacturing businesses 

The department also aims to tap into the vast entrepreneurial and industry ecosystem of FICCI FLO for mentoring, networking and business growth opportunities for women entrepreneurs and women-led manufacturing units through the FLO Bengaluru Industrial Park. The department will create opportunities for women entrepreneurs to access industrial infrastructure, statutory approvals, and government schemes. 

The partnership would also foster stronger collaboration between the government and industry to build a more enabling ecosystem for women-led enterprises. “Together, the two organisations will work to expand access to mentorship, market linkages, government programs, industry connect and manufacturing opportunities, enabling more women entrepreneurs to innovate, scale and build globally competitive enterprises from Karnataka,” it said. 

The Department of Electronics, IT, Biotechnology and Science & Technology has been continuously engaged in developing an enabling environment for women entrepreneurs through targeted programs, financial assistance and linkages, said Secretary Manjula of the department. 

“This collaboration with FICCI FLO will further strengthen that ecosystem by connecting women founders with mentorship, industry expertise, market opportunities and manufacturing infrastructure, helping them build globally competitive enterprises from Karnataka,” she added. PTI AMP ROH 

The partnership will be expected to boost more women entrepreneurs across sectors by providing better linkages between government initiatives and industry networks. The partnership aims to address the various growth hurdles faced by women-led enterprises by providing them with greater access to funding, mentorship, technology support, market connections, and industrial facilities. It also is aligned with Karnataka's thrust to foster innovation, inclusive entrepreneurship and job creation under a conducive start-up and manufacturing ecosystem. 

The contribution of women entrepreneurs in the Karnataka innovation economy has taken a huge leap, especially in the areas of technology, biotechnology, manufacturing and deep-tech.  

Officials feel that in collaboration with industry associations like FICCI FLO, the government can further accelerate this trend by facilitating more female entrepreneurs to turn their ideas into businesses, penetrate new markets and become globally competitive entrepreneurs. The effort will also help achieve the State's goal of inclusive economic growth through entrepreneurship and industrial development by women.