Women Startup Program

Register Your Interest

*Note - This form is only for expressing interest in the program. The actual application form is the final step in the registration process.

Register Your Interest

*Note - This form is only for expressing interest in the program. The actual application form is the final step in the registration process.

Women Startup Program by NSRCEL, Powered by Kotak BizLabs empowers ambitious women entrepreneurs to transform ideas into successful ventures. Launched in 2016, the program strengthens the entrepreneurial and managerial capabilities of women founders while addressing barriers through inclusive access, tailored support, and strong networks.

Building on the impact of five successful cohorts, Cohort 6 introduces a structured two-year journey designed to support women founders across different stages of growth, from ideation to scale.

The program comprises three pathways: the Entrepreneurship Base Program (EBP) for ideation-to-MVP stage founders, the Incubation Program for startups with validated MVPs and early traction, and the Scale Hub for growth-stage ventures. Entrepreneurs begin with EBP, progress through pre-incubation focused on MVP development, and receive incubation support for scaling and business growth.

Program Highlights

Mentoring

Unparalleled access to our extensive mentor network including alumni, industry experts and VCs.

Network

Connects to prospects for sales, business development and technology, as well as access to researchers and academicians shall be facilitated.

Need Assessment

Focusing on area specific development of ventures and ecosystem mapping of their requirements.

Grant Support

Each selected venture will receive a grant of INR 10 lakhs.

Co-incubation with Partner Institutes

Founders get to Co-incubate with our Partner Institutes to enhance engagement and support startup growth across India.

Legal and Compliance

Pro-Bono legal and company secretarial advice from our experts.

Business Acceleration

Opportunities to showcase ventures periodically at startup events or exhibitions

Milestone Tracking

Timely track of Milestones to track the venture’s progress

Cohort-based Learning

Community-driven learning model promoting the potential of “women supporting women”.

Sustenance and Scale

Guidance and Interventions aimed at helping startups across stages build roadmaps to ensure sustained growth.

In-Person Engagement

Curated in-person events including bootcamps, workshops, alumni connect events, networking sessions, exhibitions, round-table conferences and demo days to enable hands-on learning and direct ecosystem exposure.

Program Impact

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Learners Engaged

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Ventures Incubated

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Partners

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Jobs Created

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States Touched

Stages in Focus

*Applications Coming Soon

Selection Process

Step 1

Applications Submission

Step 2

Screening and Evaluation

Step 3

Onboarding into the Program

How can you apply and get started?

Submit Your Application here

Testimonials

Before joining the Women Startup Program at NSRCEL, IIM Bangalore, Raatai was driven by a strong vision but operated with limited structure and visibility. We were introducing DIY portable looms and working to bring weaving into school curriculums as a hands-on learning tool for creativity, focus, motor skills, and emotional well-being, while navigating challenges in product development, market validation, and growth strategy.

The Women Startup Program gave us mentorship, clarity, and confidence to position Raatai as a scalable CraftTech and wellness-driven venture. Through the program, we strengthened our business model, expanded collaborations, improved branding, and built stronger institutional connections.

Today, Raatai has reached 18,000+ participants across 8 states in India and engaged learners from 24 nationalities. We are introducing weaving as a structured curriculum in schools and as a meaningful tool for early childhood learning, special education, therapy spaces, senior care, corporate wellness, and home-based creative learning — transforming weaving into a scalable pathway for creativity, focus, motor skills, emotional well-being, and sustainable craftsmanship.

Kalaiyarasi Ramachandan

Founder, Raatai Handloom

Before joining the Women Startup Program at NSRCEL, I was building gen.E with a strong editorial vision but was still learning how to grow it into a sustainable business. Coming from a journalism background, the program helped me think more strategically as a founder I.e. from refining our business model to understanding scale, partnerships, and long-term growth. The mentorship and founder community gave me both clarity and confidence during an important stage of the journey. Since then, gen.E has grown into a revenue-generating and investor-backed venture supported by Rainmatter Capital, creating sustainability stories that reach millions online. WSP played an important role in shaping my journey as a woman entrepreneur building a purpose-driven media company.

Shrishti Kukreja

Founder, Generation Earthmedia(Gen-E)

Joining the Women Startup Program at NSRCEL was a transformative experience for both me and Edubuk. Before the program, we had strong conviction in our vision of using AI and Blockchain to build trusted education-to-employment infrastructure, but WSP helped us sharpen our strategy, strengthen our leadership approach, and scale with greater clarity and confidence. The mentorship, founder community, and structured guidance provided invaluable insights into fundraising, partnerships, growth, and execution. Post the program, Edubuk has expanded significantly, onboarding 100K+ verified profiles and building global partnerships across the Web3 and education ecosystem. Personally, WSP empowered me as a woman founder to think bigger, lead stronger, and build a globally impactful company solving real-world problems in education, skilling, and trusted hiring.

Shivani Mehrotra

Founder, Edubuk

Ecosystem Partners

Frequently Asked Questions

Getting Started

Who is eligible to apply?

For the Entrepreneurship Base Program (EBP), aspiring women entrepreneurs aged 18 and above with a feasible business idea are eligible to apply.

For the Incubation phase of the program, applicants must be based in India with majority ownership in their venture, operating at an MVP-ready to early growth stage, with initial revenue or strong market validation, and a clear business model with projected revenues for the next 12 months.

The Scale Hub is designed for growth-stage alumni and operates as a continuous program.

Does the program focus on specific sectors or geographies?

We are sector agnostic and are open to startups in the idea, prototype and revenue stage from across the country.

The Scale Hub offerings are tailored for growth-stage alumni and are sector-specific, depending on the focus of each initiative.

Can a single founder apply to the program?

Yes, we accept applications from solo founders as well.

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 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?

Application status will be clearly updated on the website. If applications are closed, you can register your interest using the form linked at the top of the page and you will be notified when the next cycle opens.

What stage should the startup be in to be eligible?

We are sector agnostic and support startups in the idea, prototype and revenue stage from across the country.

Scale Hub offerings are tailored for growth-stage alumni and are sector-specific, depending on the focus of each initiative.

How much does it cost to apply or participate in the program?

Participation in the Women Startup Program is largely free of cost.

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.

Can I apply for multiple Verticals under this program?

We recommend applying to one vertical or stage during the application process. Kindly choose the one that aligns best with your venture’s stage and requirements.

During the Program

What is the duration of each stage?

Each stage has its specific timeframe, Foundations of Entrepreneurship (FOE) – 5 Weeks, Pre-Incubation – 2 Months, Incubation – 8 Months.

Where will the program take place?

All the activities related to Foundations of Entrepreneurship (FOE) and Pre-Incubation will be conducted online and Incubation will be delivered in hybrid mode. We will be introducing you to certain tools and platforms during the induction session to facilitate the program related activities.

Do I need to be present for the entire duration of the program?

Yes, it is mandatory for you to be active throughout the program and attend the sessions and activities organized as part of Foundations of Entrepreneurship (FOE), Pre-Incubation, Incubation, and Scale-Hub, to fully benefit from the sessions and workshops.

What does NSRCEL expect from you?

We expect you to be an active participant and be involved in all the activities initiated to nurture your venture's growth.

Will my startup get funding in the process?

Funding is available through the Incubation phase of the program. Participants can pitch for grants, which are awarded based on the eligibility criteria

My question is not answered here. What do I do?

Reach out to us at – wspqueries@iimb.ac.in