In an effort to bolster women-led businesses, Marwadi University’s startup incubator, MUIIR, and the MU Women’s Cell have collaborated with the CII-Indian Women Network on National Startup Day. The partnership aims to cultivate an early entrepreneurial mindset among female students, encouraging exploration of entrepreneurship, startup development, and professionalization of family businesses. The startup ecosystem, as per a 2023 WISER Report, currently sees 18% of India’s startups led by women.
Established in 2017, Marwadi University Centre of Innovation, Incubation and Research (MUIIR), in conjunction with government and industry partners, has already funded 135 startups, initiated over 200 patents, and allocated more than INR 5Cr to bolster Gujarat’s startup ecosystem. Additionally, the university has instituted the Centre for Entrepreneurship and Family Business to assist students in professionalizing and scaling family-led businesses.
Niyati Shah, Vice President of Supack Industries and Co-Chairperson of CII Indian Women Network, Western Gujarat Zone, emphasized the network’s commitment to encouraging women’s contributions to India’s growth. She expressed happiness in marking National Startup Day 2024 by promoting female-led innovation and entrepreneurship, aiming to inspire more girls to pursue the path of startups and entrepreneurship.
Foram Chandarana, Assistant Professor and Head of Marwadi University Women’s Cell, highlighted the progress made in the startup ecosystem employing a higher number of female workers but stressed the need for continued efforts to ensure gender parity and increased workforce participation.
National Startup Day featured interactive sessions and panel discussions led by prominent female entrepreneurs, providing valuable insights to students. Prof. (Dr) Amit Sata, Associate Dean, Innovation and Entrepreneurship at Marwadi University, stressed the importance of promoting female entrepreneurship for India to achieve its goal of becoming the third-largest economy by 2030. He emphasized the need to fast-track female progression and address any barriers hindering innovation and entrepreneurship.
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