We back entrepreneurs building ‘Atmanirbhar Bharat’

COVID-19 exposed critical socio- economic gaps in our country. Now is the time for audacious goals and focused action to build back for balanced inclusive development.

In partnership with Buddha Fellowship Program at SRIJAN, NSRCEL is launching an incubation program that will enhance the entrepreneurship and startup ecosystem of rural India, thereby creating sustainable livelihood and self-employment opportunities.

This program aims to attract, enrich and develop young emerging entrepreneurial talent to solve problems of rural India and real time gaps in supply chain management of corporates using an enterprise approach.

Who is it for?

Young graduates from leading universities with a passion to solve rural problems
Corporate sector professionals looking to cross over to development sector
Development sector professionals
Early stage entrepreneurs ( both not-for-profit and for-profit )

Eligibility Criteria

Must have registered and set up an enterprise that works to solve rural problems in agriculture, nutrition, livelihood enhancement, healthcare and education leading to
Creation/enhancement of value chains/ allied value chains, supply chain management etc
Have been in operation for minimum 1 year with piloted solutions
Demonstrated proof of concept (POC) in enhancing farmer income/ improved health condition and/ or learning levels in education of rural population/ creating rural jobs/ self- employment opportunities
Have done rural immersion and clear understanding of underlying root of the problem with clear objective of macro and micro view of business
Looking at next phase of building, and enterprise/NGO growth

Sector focus

Rural livelihoods ( farm, non-farm , off farm)

Health and Nutrition

Education

Program Highlights

Top of the line mentors from industry, academia, development sector, government
Wide, rich ecosystem and networks of BFP and NSRCEL for strategic business and technological partnerships from IITs, IIMs, Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD), Rapid Rural Community Response to Covid-19 (RCRC), TRIFED, Principal Scientific Advisory
Milestone linked funding support
Opportunity to pitch for Incubation
( Upto 1 month of Rural Immersion followed by 9-month incubation, handholding support aided by quarterly entrepreneurship clinics and one to one mentoring, 6 months post incubation support)

Application Process

Startups can submit their application here
Applicants will be shortlisted based on the viability of the proposed solution to the problem, current and potential social / financial impact on rural communities
Shortlisted applicants will be called for next stage

Program Learning Outcomes

How to stabilise the business including production, marketing and distribution
How to scale (depth + breadth) and strengthen the business model
How to build a lead team and financial systems for profitability and sustainability of business
Learning marketing (B2B, B2C), sourcing, grading and packaging
How to pitch to investors/financial institutions
How to work with government to avail subsidy
Building communication skills
How to build peer networks