Kotak Mahindra Bank & NSRCEL launch 5th Women Startup Program at IIM Bangalore

By: WE Staff | Thursday, 25 July 2024

Kotak Mahindra Bank and NSRCEL at IIM Bangalore have launched the fifth cohort of the Women Startup Program, aiming to support and nurture women entrepreneurs by providing resources, mentorship, and networking opportunities. The program aims to foster a conducive environment for women-led startups, helping them overcome challenges and achieve sustainable growth, contributing to gender equality in the entrepreneurial ecosystem.

KMBL's Women Startup Program supports ambitious women in building scalable businesses under its CSR commitment. Over 23,053 women from 24 states have developed entrepreneurial and managerial skills and incubated over 590 ventures, creating 2,083 jobs. The program's entrepreneurs come from over 20 sectors, including technology, social impact, agriculture, retail, healthcare, energy, environment, textile, apparel, and more.

The fifth edition of the Women Startup Program offers a 5-week Foundation of Entrepreneurship course and a 2-month virtual pre-incubation phase for prototype development. Successful applicants progress to a 5-month incubation at NSRCEL, focusing on crafts, tech, and healthcare/life sciences. Top-performing ventures receive INR 3 crore in financial backing. The program also provides structured learning, mentorship, networking, and access to IIMB faculty, infrastructure, startup kits, and legal advice.

Anand Sri Ganesh, CEO of NSRCEL mentions “We at NSRCEL, with the support of our esteemed partner, Kotak Mahindra Bank, have made a significant impact on India's economy by fostering innovation and entrepreneurship across the country. Through this program, we have supported ventures not only in major urban centres but also in tier 2 and tier 3 regions, driving economic growth and creating job opportunities. By supporting women entrepreneurs, we are empowering individuals and contributing to the broader economic development of our nation.”