Catalyst for Women Entrepreneurship (CWE)

A 2017 World Bank report showed a substantial increase in educated women in India, but working women in India declined to 27%. More women are graduating - 3.5 lakh women graduating annually with general degrees alone. But the majority are unemployed – women’s unemployment % is higher than in Bangladesh, Indonesia, Brazil. Our country is losing out.

MSME has 321,000 registered women-owned SMEs. They are just 15% of the total and contribute only 3.09% of total industrial output. Only 3 out of 20 enterprises in India are women-led - compared to 8 of 20 in the US.

We saw the need to fill this gap and support women entrepreneurs.

In 2017, a group of us set up a comprehensive online/offline ecosystem enabling women to start up and scale: startups needing a sounding board and mentoring, existing businesses looking to scale up – our platform handholds, prepares and connects them for all these needs.

 CWE's 3680 entrepreneurs cover all industry sectors. Many starting from home have indigenously developed innovations but have not been able to scale. CWE gives access to Finance, Markets, Technology, Business Networks, Business Skills, Mentoring. We deliver this through 21 senior industry Catalyst Mentors and 20 Partner Institutions.

CWE will soon reach 20 cities.

A group of us saw the need to create a comprehensive all India platform for supporting women entrepreneurs. CWE’s comprehensive online/offline ecosystem enables women to start up and scale up: startups needing validation for a business idea, training in business skills, mentoring; existing businesses looking to expand to new markets/ funding/connections, networking with successful entrepreneurs – our platform handholds prepares and connects them for all these needs.

 CWE's 3680 entrepreneurs cover all industry sectors. They (many have started from home) have indigenously developed innovations but have not been able to scale due to lack of mentoring, access, business skills. CWE gives access to Finance, Markets, Technology, Business Networks, Business Skills, Mentoring. We deliver this through 21 senior industry Catalyst Mentors and 20 Partner Institutions, who are supporting us.

Our hybrid Incubation model will soon reach 20 Tier 2 and 3 cities.

Our mission to create 50,000 ENTREPRENEURS will result in the employment of a minimum of 250,000 (1x5). More women will enter the mainstream economy through these women-led enterprises. CWE HAS ALREADY CREATED 3580 WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS ACROSS INDIA. Our 2020 dipstick survey shows

1. Employment generation (majority are women) across all CWE networks. (A pilot with 68 women entrepreneurs in Karnataka showed they added 1441 employees in 2018-19). Each entrepreneur adds an average of 5 employees in the next 2 years. Women spend 90% of their independent income on family and community, resulting in a significant increase in health, education and economic development indicators.

2. Creation of innovative patented solutions in healthcare, education, deep tech; 10+ companies have got global patents and funding E.g. Triphase Pharma; Biomoneta.

3. Preservation of traditional crafts and providing livelihood to artisans E.g. Dwaraka Trust

4. Employability skilling E.g. Her Second Innings

5. Successful Production/Marketing of eco-friendly and sustainable products and services E.g. Astu Eco; Livrite Foods; Chungi Store

6. Contribution to India’s GDP with increased turnover and exports E.g. EFGH Foods; Azooka Lifesciences; Carewel Facilities.

7. Supporting other businesses through procurement, sales, packaging. technology, financial, professional services E.g. MrilQ supports 60 women agri producers in NE.