The US Consulate General Kolkata in partnership with Startup India, Aroh Foundation and Nexus Start-up Hub at the American Centre, New Delhi, is announcing applications for the Women’s Global Development Prosperity (W-GDP) Initiative “Academy for Women Entrepreneurs” (AWE) in Bihar and Jharkhand.
AWE will support a selected cohort of 90 prospective women entrepreneurs and early-stage business owners from Bihar and Jharkhand by providing US-style online education with guided facilitation from US State Department alumni, local business women, and other partners.
The selected participants will join an AWE network that will support participants’ access to peer-to-peer mentorship, business partners, and scaling opportunities with businesses in the region and in the United States. The programme is running an Idea Challenge, and aspiring women entrepreneurs can apply to https://lnkd.in/eakH-4Y to win AWS credits worth $1000.
In phase 2, women entrepreneurs will undergo an online Dreambuilder programme from the University of Arizona. In phase 3, high-potential women entrepreneurs will proceed to Kolkata for a bootcamp and pitching session. At least 6 (six) women entrepreneurs will receive AWS credits worth $5000 and incubation support in one of the state incubators.
“The US Consulate General Kolkata is committed to strengthening the entrepreneurship ecosystem in East India, with a particular emphasis on empowering women. Our Academy of Women Entrepreneurs programme has already proven to be a success in the Northeast, and I am happy that we can now bring this programme to Bihar and Jharkhand. I invite women entrepreneurs and early-stage business owners to apply for this unique US Department of State opportunity,” acting Consul General Monica Shie said.
AWE programme managers conducted roadshows in Patna, Begusarai and Nalanda in Bihar and in Ranchi, Jamshedpur and Dhanbad in Jharkhand with leading institutions in the first week of August. State-level organizations Startup Bihar and Startup Jharkhand are supporting AWE initiatives to nurture women entrepreneurs and help them set up innovative ventures in respective states.