Empowering Women Entrepreneurs WEP in Telangana through Digital Skilling, Mentorship, and Financial Access.NITI Aayog Launches Women Entrepreneurship Platform Telangana Chapter in Collaboration with WE Hub.
In a significant step towards fostering women’s entrepreneurship in Telangana, NITI Aayog, in collaboration with the Government of Telangana, has launched the first state chapter of its Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP). The initiative aims to provide women entrepreneurs with crucial support, including access to digital skilling, financial resources, and mentorship opportunities. WE Hub, India’s first incubation center dedicated to women entrepreneurs, will serve as the nodal organization for the WEP Telangana Chapter.
This collaboration marks a major milestone in the mission to empower women entrepreneurs by offering them the resources, tools, and networks necessary to build and grow their businesses. By focusing on digital skills, financial inclusion, and expert mentorship, the WEP Telangana Chapter is set to become a catalyst for women-led enterprises in various sectors, helping them overcome challenges and scale their operations.
Key Objectives of the WEP Telangana Chapter
The Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) Telangana Chapter has been specifically designed to support women entrepreneurs in the region through several focused initiatives. These include:
- Digital Skilling: Offering training and resources to enhance digital literacy and technical skills among women entrepreneurs.
- Access to Financial Services: Providing easy access to funding and financial services, including government-backed loans and grants.
- Mentorship and Networking: Facilitating connections with industry leaders, potential investors, and other entrepreneurs for guidance and growth opportunities.
- Market Linkages: Helping women-led businesses connect with markets to increase sales and expand their reach.
WE Hub, which has been at the forefront of empowering women entrepreneurs in India, will leverage its expertise to implement and manage these initiatives, ensuring that women across Telangana have access to the tools they need for success.
WEP Telangana: A Catalyst for Women Entrepreneurs
During the launch event, Shri BVR Subrahmanyam, CEO of NITI Aayog, highlighted the critical role of women entrepreneurs in driving India’s economic growth. He emphasized that women often face significant challenges when it comes to securing financial support, mentorship, and marketing opportunities. The WEP Telangana Chapter, in partnership with WE Hub, aims to address these gaps and provide a comprehensive support system for women entrepreneurs in the state.
“Women entrepreneurship is key to India’s economic future,” said Shri BVR Subrahmanyam. “The WEP State Chapter in Telangana, with WE Hub as the nodal agency, will significantly enhance opportunities for women. Women entrepreneurs face challenges in receiving support in terms of finances, mentoring, marketing. The base that WEP and the State Chapters provide will help elevate SHG women businesses and build high-quality brands through the platform.”
Mentorship: A Pillar for Entrepreneurial Success
One of the major themes of the WEP Telangana Chapter is the importance of mentorship. Dr. Sangeetha Reddy, Co-chair of WEP and Joint Managing Director of Apollo Hospitals Group, stressed that mentorship is a critical element for the success of any business. According to her, mentoring offers women entrepreneurs the opportunity to connect with industry leaders and gain insights into navigating the complexities of business.
“Mentoring is crucial for the success of any business. Networking opportunities, facilitating connections with industry leaders, potential partners, and other entrepreneurs, along with access to resources offering guidance on funding options, government schemes, business planning, and mentoring,” said Dr. Reddy.
This emphasis on mentorship underscores the role of WEP as a facilitator for not just financial growth, but also personal and professional development for women entrepreneurs.
The Vision Behind WEP: Motivation, Knowledge, and Action
Anna Roy, Principal Economic Advisor at NITI Aayog, outlined the vision of WEP during her opening remarks at the event. She explained that the platform is built on three core pillars: Iccha Shakti (the power of motivation), Gyaan Shakti (the power of knowledge), and Karma Shakti (the power of action). These principles aim to empower women entrepreneurs by transforming their aspirations into tangible achievements and ensuring their ideas translate into impactful actions.
“Iccha Shakti, Gyaan Shakti, and Karma Shakti are the pillars of the Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP). By harnessing these strengths, WEP aims to transform aspirations into achievements and action into impact,” said Ms. Roy. She also revealed that WEP is expanding into tier 2 and tier 3 cities through the WEP in States initiative, which will create an inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem across India by partnering with states like Telangana.
This hub-and-spoke model will serve as a thriving support system for women entrepreneurs, ensuring that even those in remote and underserved areas receive the guidance and resources they need to succeed.
Telangana’s Strong Ecosystem for Women Entrepreneurs
Telangana was chosen as the first state to host a WEP chapter due to its robust entrepreneurial ecosystem and strong track record of supporting women-led businesses. Shri Jayesh Ranjan, IAS, Special Chief Secretary for IT and Industries Departments, Government of Telangana, attributed this decision to the state’s consistent support for entrepreneurship, particularly in Self Help Groups (SHGs) and through incubators at academic institutions.
At the event, Shri Ranjan announced Ms. Sita Pallacholla, CEO of WE Hub, as the Mission Director for the WEP Telangana Chapter. He also introduced ‘WE Bridge’, a single-window platform aimed at supporting women entrepreneurs across the state by providing them with access to funding, market opportunities, and business networks.
“Due to Telangana’s great track record of support system for entrepreneurship in SHGs, the State Innovation Ecosystem and Incubators at Academia Institutions, WEP chose Telangana as the first State Chapter,” Shri Ranjan said.
WE Hub’s Commitment to Women Entrepreneurs
As the newly appointed Mission Director for the WEP Telangana Chapter, Ms. Sita Pallacholla, CEO of WE Hub, expressed her excitement for the opportunities this platform will bring to women entrepreneurs across the state. She highlighted WE Hub’s mission to ensure that women-led enterprises, particularly those in underserved areas, flourish through access to funding, technology, and business networks.
“At WE Hub, our goal has always been to ensure that women-led enterprises flourish, especially in underserved areas. The partnership with NITI Aayog through the WEP Telangana Chapter will enable us to bring more opportunities for women, helping them access funding, technology, and networks to grow their businesses,” said Ms. Pallacholla.
Conclusion: A New Dawn for Women Entrepreneurs in Telangana
The launch of the WEP Telangana Chapter marks a new chapter in the empowerment of women entrepreneurs in the state. Through digital skilling, access to financial resources, mentorship, and market linkages, the platform aims to create an inclusive ecosystem where women-led businesses can thrive. WE Hub, with its expertise and commitment to supporting women entrepreneurs, is well-positioned to lead this initiative and bring transformative opportunities to women across Telangana.
With strong backing from NITI Aayog and the Government of Telangana, the WEP Telangana Chapter is set to drive meaningful change, turning aspirations into impactful realities for women entrepreneurs throughout the region.
