Women Economic Empowerment Program

Celebrating Innovation and Impact Today, we shine a spotlight on Shubhangi Singh and her inspiring venture, Golden Millets. As part of the Fevolution Pvt Ltd, Shubhangi leads one of the many women-led businesses that have benefited from the HumSafal Initiative by Aspire For Her, in partnership with Women Economic Empowerment Program. Through extensive mentorship and training, this initiative empowers women entrepreneurs to embrace the opportunities of the digital platform economy. Like Shubhangi, other women entrepreneurs strive to expand their business, impact lives, build their product/service portfolio, increase their customer outreach, and more. With HumSafal, select aggregator brands have received dedicated support with essential resources, skills, and opportunities for expansion. Together, through this incredible initiative, Aspire For Her and WEE aim to impact thousands of artisans, small businesses, and entrepreneurs. Uplift the business, in turn uplift their communities and create multiple pathways to success. GAME - Global Alliance for Mass Entrepreneurship Golden Millets Fevolution Pvt Ltd Aspire For Her Shubhangi Singh Madhura DasGupta Sinha Divya Sampath Ravi Venkatesan Madan Padaki Mekin Maheshwari Ketul Acharya Poulomi Pal Samikhsya Nanda Vanya Kaushik Lisa Keshariya #Aggregators #Entrepreneurs #Entrepreneurship #WomenEntrepreneurs #WomenSupportingWomen #WomenLedBusinesses #SustainableBusiness #HumSafal #Fevolution #Goldenmillets #HealthyMilletProducts #Entrepranari #Womenproducers #EmpowerWomen #EconomicEmpowerment #RuralIndia #RuralIndianWomen #SocialImpact #Communities

This compelling piece highlights the resilience and artistry of women in India's garment factories, juxtaposing their craft with the often harsh realities of their work environment. This narrative resonates deeply with the ongoing efforts to bridge the gap between labor-intensive industries and equitable opportunities for women in the digital economy. In India, women constitute a significant portion of the informal workforce, including gig jobs, where they represent over 36% of the gig workforce (NITI Aayog, 2022). However, many women, particularly from rural areas, remain underrepresented in digital platform opportunities due to challenges such as lack of digital literacy, access to resources, and market linkages. Through our Women’s Economic Empowerment (WEE) program, we strive to uplift these women—rural solopreneurs, garment workers, and nano-entrepreneurs—by: 1️⃣ Providing digital literacy training to enable participation in the platform economy. 2️⃣ Connecting women-led businesses with aggregator brands, ensuring access to broader markets. 3️⃣ Creating equitable partnerships with gender-intentional platforms to improve earnings and sustainability. As we transform the narrative for rural women entrepreneurs, we are inspired by such case studies. Women’s economic participation is not just a matter of survival but a pathway to thrive in a more inclusive digital future. How can we collectively reimagine the gig economy to make it more inclusive for women at all levels? Share your thoughts below! GAME - Global Alliance for Mass Entrepreneurship Nandita Shivakumar Ravi Venkatesan Madan Padaki Mekin Maheshwari Ketul Acharya Poulomi Pal Samikhsya Nanda Vanya Kaushik Lisa Keshariya #WomenEmpowerment #DigitalEconomy #GigJobs #RuralEntrepreneurs #InclusiveGrowth

New Year, Same Mission—Empowering Women Entrepreneurs Last year, we shared our blog, co-authored by Poulomi Pal, VP Programs & WEE, GAME - Global Alliance for Mass Entrepreneurship and Kruti Javeri, Associate Director, Saath Charitable Trust. This blog showcased our efforts to bridge gaps in women’s entrepreneurship through innovative upskilling and digital empowerment, enabling greater opportunities within the platform economy. From rural e-commerce partnerships with Amazon to social commerce collaborations with Bizup, we have been unlocking opportunities and building capacities for women entrepreneurs in the WEE network. 💡 Discover how these resilient women are mastering design, refining business acumen, and leveraging digital platforms to excel in today’s competitive market. This is a story of collaboration, innovation, and the indomitable spirit of women in business. 👉 Read the full blog here: https://lnkd.in/gwGyvH8A Let’s engage in a conversation about driving meaningful change—share your thoughts below! GAME - Global Alliance for Mass Entrepreneurship Amazon Bizup Saath Charitable Trust Ravi Venkatesan Madan Padaki Mekin Maheshwari Rajendra Joshi Ketul Acharya Poulomi Pal Kruti Javeri Chinmayi Desai Meera zala Samikhsya Nanda Vanya Kaushik Lisa Keshariya #WomenEntrepreneurs #DigitalEmpowerment #Upskilling #WEEJourney #CollaborationForChange #Newblog #Blogupdate #Linkedinreads #Digitalsuccess #Entrepreneurjourney

🌟 Happy New Year 2025! 🌟 As we step into a brand-new year, we reflect on the strides made in 2024 towards creating a more inclusive and equitable digital economy for women. From empowering women entrepreneurs to bridging skill and resource gaps, every milestone we achieved was powered by collective action, resilience, and the unwavering commitment of our community. In 2025, we’re excited to take this journey further. Here’s what we’re looking forward to: 💡 Building stronger partnerships with gender-intentional organizations. 📈 Unlocking new opportunities for women entrepreneurs in digital platform economy. 🤝 Driving impactful initiatives to support women-led businesses. Let’s continue to champion women’s voices, aspirations, and economic contributions. Together, we can create a future where every woman thrives. 💪✨ To all the changemakers in our ecosystem—thank you for your support and collaboration. Let’s make 2025 the year of transformation! GAME - Global Alliance for Mass Entrepreneurship Saath Ahmedabad Dhriiti - The Courage Within YouthNet Aspire For Her Frontier Markets Airblack Amazon Bizup Ravi Venkatesan Madan Padaki Mekin Maheshwari Ketul Acharya Poulomi Pal Samikhsya Nanda Vanya Kaushik Lisa Keshariya #HappyNewYear2025 #WomenEmpowerment #InclusiveEconomy #DigitalTransformation #WEE

A Heartfelt Ode to Women Artists and Entrepreneurs Over the past year, through the WEE initiative under GAME - Global Alliance for Mass Entrepreneurship to enable digital market access had the privilege of discovering extraordinary brands led by women artists, producers, and entrepreneurs. Their dedication to craftsmanship, sustainability, and innovation shines through the amazing products they create. We took the opportunity to celebrate and share their work by curating gifts for key events hosted over the year, letting the world witness their artistry and impact. At the Women Market Access Collective Event (Dec 5th, 2024): 🔹Gifts were lovingly curated by women from Aftertaste_India, featuring hand-painted bags, handmade diaries, and photo frames. These were paired with eco-friendly bamboo plate sets from Tamul Plates Marketing Private Limited—each piece telling a story of care and sustainability. At the TiE Global Summit '24: A thoughtfully curated selection was presented to more than 100 esteemed speakers: 🔹Elegant macrame designs from Knot Square 🔹Wholesome and nourishing snacks from The House of NutriCastle India 🔹Exquisite Dokra art pieces from The Artisan Foundation 🔹Premium teas from Madhuban Spices Together, these products celebrate craftsmanship, sustainability, and stories of entrepreneurial spirit from women across India. ✨ At the Amazon Sambh Event: Leaders received beautifully curated shawls from Karghewale, showcasing exceptional artistry and traditional weaving techniques. 💫 These gifts are not just products—they are a tribute to the care, craftsmanship, and sustainability that women entrepreneurs bring to life. We are incredibly proud of their journey and remain committed to enabling better and more equitable market access for women-led brands. To all the incredible women artists, producers, and entrepreneurs we’ve had the honor of working with—thank you. Your work inspires us, and together, we hope to create a future where your talent reaches every corner of the world. GAME - Global Alliance for Mass Entrepreneurship The Udaiti Foundation Amazon Aspire For Her Entreprenaari Dhriiti - The Courage Within Ravi Venkatesan Madan Padaki Mekin Maheshwari Ketul Acharya Poulomi Pal Madhura DasGupta Sinha Divya Sampath Arindam Dasgupta Shruti Patil Mahagaonkar Archana Harish Nivedita Rai Samikhsya Nanda Vanya Kaushik Lisa Keshariya #WomenEntrepreneurs #Craftsmanship #Sustainability #MarketAccess #DigitalMarketAccess #WEE #Empowerment #WomenLedBrands

We recently marked a significant milestone in fostering women-led entrepreneurship! Airblack and GAME - Global Alliance for Mass Entrepreneurship have partnered to launch high quality and freely accessible beauty courses to drive mass entrepreneurship, hosted on the Zudo app by Airblack. Why Zudo App by Airblack? In many small towns and villages, women face significant challenges such as mobility restrictions and societal barriers. This limits their ability to upgrade skills or pursue traditional jobs. Zudo addresses these issues by offering: 🔹 10 high-quality, self-paced beauty courses: Designed to be relevant and trending, these courses enable women to confidently enhance their skills and expand their businesses. 🔹 Free and accessible content: Breaking financial and physical barriers, Zudo ensures skill development is within everyone’s reach. 🔹 Credibility and engagement: The platform ensures content quality with courses hosted by India’s top vocational academy, providing learners a distinct advantage in their entrepreneurial journeys. Event Highlights The launch event was a vibrant gathering of over 100 beauty enthusiasts, including salon owners and operators. Key moments included: 🔹 Insights from Vaibhav Raj Gupta (Co-founder, Airblack): Vaibhav introduced Zudo and its vision to drive mass entrepreneurship through accessible skill development and walked participants through the Zudo app, showcasing its intuitive design and impactful features. 🔹 Inspiration from Idi Ngia (Asia's Youngest Diamond Director, Oriflame): Idi shared her journey, inspiring participants with actionable insights on how to overcome barriers and thrive as women entrepreneurs. Partners and the Way Ahead This initiative is being piloted in collaboration with community partners Dhriiti - The Courage Within, Saath Ahmedabad, and YouthNet. Together, we aim to empower women from traditionally underserved communities by: 🔹 Driving content engagement and completion through targeted distribution strategies. 🔹 Creating strong credibility for learners with structured, high-quality courses. 🔹 Empowering women with limited access to education by providing a scalable, sustainable solution. Access the Zudo app on the Play store: https://lnkd.in/gqgw8QG3 GAME - Global Alliance for Mass Entrepreneurship Airblack Saath Ahmedabad Dhriiti - The Courage Within YouthNet Ravi Venkatesan Madan Padaki Mekin Maheshwari Ketul Acharya Poulomi Pal Videt Jaiswal Kavya Tandon Chinmayi Desai Kruti Javeri Meera zala Nidhi Gupta Anirban Gupta Nuneseno Chase Neike Shosahie Vanya Kaushik Samikhsya Nanda Lisa Keshariya #WomenEconomicEmpowerment #WEEFeature #RuralEntrepreneurs #MakeUpArtists #WomenLedBusinesses #BusinessGrowth #BeautyExpert #freecourse #selfpaced #Beautyentrepreneurs

Celebrating Women Entrepreneurs at TGS '24: From Access to Aspiration During the Pushing the Boundaries: Growth and Women Entrepreneurship; The Journey from Access to Aspiration session conducted by GAME at TGS '24, we had the privilege of hearing directly from inspiring women entrepreneurs who are redefining their lives and communities. These powerful stories were shared by members of the Buzz Women cohort, a program dedicated to enabling women with critical knowledge, skills, and opportunities at their doorstep. By equipping them with tools to enhance their capabilities, Buzz Women empowers women to transform their lives, their families, and their communities. Stories of Resilience and Growth: ▶ Mrs. Rajamma from Koratagere Taluk, Tumkur District, began her tailoring business after participating in Buzz programs. With the support of a MicroEquity loan through the Yunus Social Business Fund, facilitated by Buzz Women, she expanded her business and now tracks her finances seamlessly using the MeraBills app. ▶ Mrs. Nagarathnamma from Bangalore South Taluk ventured into animal husbandry after Buzz intervention. She expanded her enterprise to include a decorative plant nursery, again leveraging a MicroEquity loan facilitated by Buzz Women and utilizing the Merabill app for expense management. ▶ Mrs. Parvathi from Devanahalli Taluk, Bangalore Rural District, embarked on her journey in food processing after Buzz’s intervention. Supported by a loan under the PMFME scheme, she successfully launched operations just a month ago. ▶ Mrs. Ashwini, also from Devanahalli Taluk, established a cashew processing unit that has been running successfully for over a year. Her business not only creates employment opportunities for local women but also involves her son, promoting a legacy of entrepreneurship. Shruti Patil Mahagaonkar, Founder of The House of NutriCastle India, shared her entrepreneurial journey of building a thriving snack brand. As a member of Entreprenaari from Aspire For Her, Shruti highlighted the significance of access to credit, markets, and overcoming societal biases that often challenge women-led businesses. She also emphasized the unwavering support she received from her mother throughout her journey, which has been instrumental in helping her dream big and aspire to greater heights. These stories reflect the power of intervention, financial support, and determination. Through platforms like TGS '24, women entrepreneurs are being seen, heard, and celebrated, pushing boundaries from access to aspiration and beyond. GAME - Global Alliance for Mass Entrepreneurship TiE TiE Bangalore Ravi Venkatesan Madan Padaki Mekin Maheshwari Ketul Acharya Poulomi Pal Uthara Narayanan Vanya Kaushik Samikhsya Nanda Lisa Keshariya #WomenEntrepreneurs #TGS24 #Empowerment #BuzzWomen #GAME #Entrepreneurship #InclusiveGrowth #WomenInBusiness #PushingBoundaries

“You may trod me in the very dirt, but still, like dust, I’ll rise.” – Maya Angelou Maya Angelou’s powerful words capture the resilience and spirit of women leaders who are rising above barriers to transform their communities. At the “Still I Rise: Leadership Through Collectivization” panel, moderated by Nidhi Gupta, Executive Director, Dhriiti - The Courage Within, we celebrated the inspiring journeys of women entrepreneurs who are not just building livelihoods but driving systemic change: 🌟 Narmada Jha, Tisser Artisan Trust: From convincing families to support women artisans to creating shareholders in their own company, Narmada is empowering women to own their craft. 🌟 Sumitra Devi, (Former) Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture: Breaking stereotypes, Sumitra became a drone pilot operator, started nurseries, and shared innovations like vermicompost, proving how training transforms possibilities. 🌟Rani Devi, Professional Assistance For Development Action (PRADAN): By transforming farming practices, Rani empowered 100+ women, helping entire villages and carving independent identities for families now known by their names. 🌟 Aparna Pillai, Shakti Jhola: Aparna’s skills have helped her and fellow community women earn from home, overcoming barriers of poverty and unemployment—showcasing the power of self-reliance. 🌟 Vrindanati Devi, Bindi International: With courage to travel and learn, Vrindanati lit up her village, built her own home, and broke barriers of isolation. 🌟 Iaishah Rymbai, ERIWEAVE SELCO Foundation: Iaishah is bridging the artisan-market gap, leading 100+ women to global markets while reviving traditional crafts and ensuring economic sustainability 🌟Chandra R, Vrutti -Livelihood Impact Partners: From seeking permission to now being sought for advice, Chandra shows the power of learning in groups and sharing experiences to uplift entire communities. These women embody hope, leadership, and resilience, much like Angelou’s enduring spirit. Yet, their journey highlights the urgent need for: - Better market access - Skill-building opportunities - Stronger support from community-based organizations At WEMAC, we believe that when women rise, they lift economies, families, and generations along with them. Together, let’s work to create equitable and sustainable opportunities for every woman to rise. GAME - Global Alliance for Mass Entrepreneurship The Udaiti Foundation Ladyfingers Co. Ravi Venkatesan Madan Padaki Mekin Maheshwari Pooja Sharma Goyal Morchan Karthick Kanika Singal Ketul Acharya Poulomi Pal Poornima Menon Samikhsya Nanda Vanya Kaushik Lisa Keshariya Rajasee Ray #StillIRise #WomenEntrepreneurs #Leadership #Resilience #MarketAccess #EconomicEmpowerment #CollectiveLeadership

"... of winged, unmiraculous women, Honey-drudgers. I am no drudge Though for years I have eaten dust And dried plates with my dense hair." Stings - Sylvia Plath This poem by Plath speaks of her emotional turmoil as a woman, trying to establish an identity. This resonates with the lives of the women we work with—these so-called “unmiraculous ones,” who carry wings as metaphors, unleashing energy, dreams, and aspirations. At our recent Women Entrepreneurship Market Access Collective event, community women leaders, artists, and producers shared powerful stories of resilience, challenges, and the need for better market access. While community-based organizations have equipped them with skills and confidence, it’s now time for private platforms, policymakers, and innovators to create market solutions that address their needs and drive inclusive economic growth. Kalawati Rathod - Saath Ahmedabad: Mobility barriers persist; private platforms must innovate with women’s realities in mind. She emphasized how mobility remains a huge challenge for women like her, preventing them from accessing larger markets. Rizwana Begum - Creyo: She shared how her skills have been able to reach a larger public, allowing her craft to sustain her livelihood. Santosh Kumari - URMUL DESERT CRAFTS: Education transformed her life and enabled her business journey. Being the first woman in her village to graduate, she reflected on how education shaped her path and empowered her to lead. Naziya Mirza - Aftertaste_India: She shared how her daughters’ belief motivated her to recognize her abilities and take pride in her work. Ayesha Begum - Kriti Social Initiatives: She spoke of breaking stereotypes, learning to save collectively, and how it transformed her outlook. Pratima Rabha - Tamul Plates Marketing Private Limited: She highlighted how community savings improved economic stability and uplifted her peers. Meena Kaintura - Mount Valley Development Association: Peer learning fostered growth and resilience. She spoke about the importance of peer learning and how growing together has helped her gain confidence. Moderated by Rica Roy, this discussion brought to light the structural and societal barriers these women face. Their voices are a powerful reminder that true progress requires us to listen, innovate, and act. Let’s continue to recognize, support, and empower women producers, leaders, and solopreneurs to thrive. Now is the time to ensure their voices and perspectives shape market access solutions that unlock inclusive economic opportunities. GAME - Global Alliance for Mass Entrepreneurship The Udaiti Foundation Ladyfingers Co. Ravi Venkatesan Madan Padaki Mekin Maheshwari Pooja Sharma Goyal Morchan Karthick Kanika Singal Ketul Acharya Poulomi Pal Samikhsya Nanda Vanya Kaushik Poornima Menon Lisa Keshariya Rajasee Ray

The opening panel, From Spare Change to Real Change: Making Markets Work for Women Entrepreneurs, laid the groundwork for an engaging and thought-provoking conversation at WEMAC'24 This panel enriched our understanding of critical topics, including: ✅ The development of gender-intentional policies that address systemic barriers for women entrepreneurs ✅ The active role of private platform partners in bridging gaps and driving scalable impact ✅ Identifying the right metrics to ensure equitable and inclusive market access for women collectives We extend our deepest gratitude to the insightful panelists— Vandana Bahri- Children's Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF), Shagun Sabarwal- Co-Impact, Megha Jain- Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Dipika Sharma- Amazon, Saransh Agrawal- Open Network For Digital Commerce (ONDC), Bharath Visweswariah- British Asian Trust, and Richa Kothari- Impact Investment Exchange (IIX)—as well as our incredible moderator, Aparna Bijapurkar- Boston Consulting Group (BCG). A special thanks to the The Udaiti Foundation team for being our knowledge partner on this journey, and to Rajasee Ray, Co-Founder Ladyfingers Co., for beautifully summarizing the discussion with these thoughtful and engaging illustrations. As we reflect on this panel discussion, here are the key takeaways that resonated the most: 🔑 No Size Fits All Women entrepreneurs face diverse and evolving challenges. Tailored solutions—focused on credit, logistics, skills, and markets—are essential to meeting their needs effectively. 🔑 Gender-Intentional Design Thinking Embedding gender intentionality at the core of policies, programs, and platforms ensures that solutions address viability, sustainability, and scalability barriers for women. 🔑 Collaboration is Critical Driving real change requires all stakeholders—public, private, and grassroots—to come together, align efforts, and create sustainable pathways to support women entrepreneurs. 🔑 Aggregator Models Unlock Market Access Aggregators play a transformative role, but their economics are unique. Finding the right actors and creating localized solutions can help bridge critical access gaps. 🔑 Metrics Matter The right outcome readiness frameworks and impact metrics are essential to measure progress and ensure equitable participation of women entrepreneurs. As we move forward, it is clear that fostering women’s entrepreneurship demands a comprehensive understanding and a collaborative approach. By working together, we can co-create innovative solutions that advance the ecosystem and drive sustainable, meaningful change. Together, let’s continue making markets work for women entrepreneurs. GAME - Global Alliance for Mass Entrepreneurship The Udaiti Foundation Ravi Venkatesan Madan Padaki Mekin Maheshwari Pooja Sharma Goyal Morchan Karthick Ketul Acharya Poulomi Pal Samikhsya Nanda Vanya Kaushik Poornima Menon Lisa Keshariya