Women Startup Program 2022
NSRCEL’s Women Startup Program at IIM Bangalore, a CSR initiative by Kotak, aims to support ambitious and innovative women entrepreneurs by enabling them to transform their idea into business ventures. First ideated in 2016, the Program is designed to focus on the enhancement of the entrepreneurial and managerial skills of women leading early and ideation stage ventures.
The Program provides business knowledge for entrepreneurs to build on their idea in the initial stage through Massive Open Online Course. The Program then progresses by offering selected candidates a three-month virtual pre-incubation Program where entrepreneurs will undergo business training to develop their prototype. Finalists are selected to be a part of Incubation at NSRCEL where they will focus on developing their product and scaling up. The Program is fully sponsored by Kotak Mahindra Bank Limited.
Partner Institutions
Testimonials

The pandemic happened to be a blessing for me as an individual and for us as a company. NSRCEL has facilitated us in changing our approach and thinking beyond our limits to expand our startup.
How to be a wonder woman and a wonderpreneur was a key lesson that gave me the confidence to speak up and share my thoughts. NSRCEL's network provided me with access to intellectual minds, expert mentors and professors and this was a true blessing for a new startup such as ours. We are always thankful to NSRCEL for being our guiding star through our difficult and happy times. We owe a significant part of our success to this great institute; under whose shadow we have learnt to go beyond our limits and aspire to achieve them too. Most importantly we have been able to get out of a whirlpool and find our path ahead. I have been able to evolve as an individual and entrepreneur and have also been able to unlearn and relearn with NSRCEL.

The only silver lining of the pandemic years (2020-2021) has been NSRCEL’s Women Startup Program 3.0 for me. When I look back at the WSP 3.0 journey - The online course of WSP3.0 was a first-of-its-kind for NSRCEL and every step that the organizers took indeed benefitted the cohort of 210 women immensely. The sharp mentoring by established mentors, amiable admin members who were available 24x7 to explain salient features, alumni network, and select Founders who spoke of their venture journey at perfectly chalked-out e-sessions, all these lessons - completely overhauled my mindset and empowered me to explore the ‘Power of Collaboration’. NSRCEL team lauded my conviction. WSP cohort colleagues soon became my dependable friends, where we found some soul-searching moments to tide over tough days. Today, when I identified as a Social Venture Founder incubated at NSRCEL, IIMB, I gained instant recognition globally. With gratitude to entire NSRCEL team and IIMB stalwarts, you are the ‘wind beneath my wings’.

“Kutuki's journey began at NSRCEL. At the time that we were incubated we were still at the idea stage. It was at NSRCEL that we built our team, fleshed out our product and launched our MVP. The mentors and faculty members are extremely approachable and just a call or message away in case you need a connect or have a doubt. Through the network of entrepreneurs incubated here you get access to real world insights and innovative approaches for everything from marketing, building technology to fund raising. NSRCEL also provides a bunch of opportunities that you can leverage keeping in mind your business needs. I got a chance to travel to Israel and interact with Founders from some promising Ed-Tech startups who are building cutting edge tools to personalise learning and provide meaningful insights. Opportunities like these push your thinking and give you ideas that you may have not thought of before. We are very grateful to be part of the NSRCEL community.”
FAQ
Who is eligible to apply?
If one of the co-founders is a female and above the age of 18, and fully dedicated to the business and not employed in any capacity by any other company
Does the program focus on specific sectors or geographies?
We are sector agnostic and are open to early-stage idea from across the country
Can a single founder apply to the program?
Yes, We accept applications from solo founders. That said, our advice remains that one-person startups are tough and you are more likely to succeed with a co-founder.
I have two ideas? Can I submit two applications?
Each applicant must apply with a single idea
I applied for the program previously. Can I re-apply?
You can apply to the Women Startup Program 2022 if you meet the eligibility criteria. Please highlight any additional information on your progress from your application for a previous cohort, to improve your chances of selection
How much equity will NSRCEL take from my startup?
NSRCEL does not take equity from ventures part of the Women Startup Program.
When can I apply?
Applications are currently open. Click on Apply Now button to register your interest and follow us on our social media handles for updates.
What stage should the startup be in to be eligible?
Ideation stage and early-stage start-ups that demonstrate the potential to innovate, implement and create impact.
Where will the program take place?
All the activities related to pre-incubation will be conducted online. We will be introducing to you certain tools and platforms during the induction session to facilitate all the activities.
How much does it cost to apply or participate in the program?
The participants will not be charged any fee to participate in the program
What do we look for in an applicant?
Founders are required to be committed to their idea full-time and must demonstrate the ability and entrepreneurial mindset to build and grow an organization.
Do I need to be present for the entire duration of the program?
We recommend that at least one of the founders attend the sessions and activities organised as part pre-incubation and Incubation to benefit from the sessions and workshops designed for the program.