Womennovator Signs MoU with Startup India (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, to Empower Women Entrepreneurs

On 15th September 2025, Womennovator proudly signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Startup India, a flagship initiative of the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry, at Vanijya Bhawan, New Delhi.

This landmark collaboration is a significant step towards strengthening India’s startup ecosystem and creating an inclusive platform where women entrepreneurs, innovators, and leaders can thrive.

Why This MoU Matters

For years, Womennovator has worked tirelessly to amplify the voices of women entrepreneurs, offering them mentorship, visibility, access to funding, and global linkages. The Startup India MoU takes this mission to the next level.

Through this partnership, Womennovator will:

• Reach 200+ Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, empowering women at the grassroots level.
• Connect startups to 1000+ mentors and industry experts, fostering personalized guidance.
• Provide innovation and incubation platforms for scaling new-age ventures.
• Offer access to funding networks, market linkages, and policy advocacy.
• Empower 1000+ women entrepreneurs to build sustainable, growth-driven businesses.

This collaboration aligns closely with India’s vision of an Atmanirbhar Bharat, where women are not just participants but key drivers of economic growth.

Flagship Programs Linked to the MoU

To ensure real, on-ground impact, Womennovator is aligning its flagship programs with the Startup India ecosystem. These initiatives are to empower women at every stage of their entrepreneurial journey.

10K Fellowship Program

The 10K Fellowship is Womennovator’s bold initiative to nurture 10,000 women leaders and changemakers across India. Fellows gain structured mentorship, leadership development opportunities, and exposure to national and global networks. With the Startup India MoU, the Fellowship will scale to new regions, providing young women with the skills and confidence to lead entrepreneurial journeys.

LFPR Initiative

India’s Labour Force Participation Rate (LFPR) for women remains among the lowest globally. The LFPR Initiative aims to change this by enabling women to upskill, reskill, and find pathways into meaningful work and entrepreneurship. Under the MoU, this program will focus on Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities, ensuring women have access to training, job readiness programs, and entrepreneurial opportunities.

WeShop

WeShop is Womennovator’s dedicated marketplace for women entrepreneurs. It creates visibility and market access for women-led businesses by enabling online retail, buyer-seller meets, and corporate procurement opportunities. With Startup India’s network, WeShop will become a bridge between women-led businesses and national/international buyers, offering women the chance to scale their enterprises beyond local boundaries.

WeNEST Incubation Program

The WeNEST Program is a 6-month structured incubation and mentorship initiative that connects women entrepreneurs with 1000+ domain experts and industry leaders. It offers tailored support on business strategy, compliance, leadership, and access to investors. Through the MoU, WeNEST will expand its reach to 250+ startups annually, ensuring women-led businesses have the knowledge, networks, and confidence to succeed.

Celebrating Community Strength

This achievement is not just Womennovator’s — it belongs to our community of mentors, leaders, partners, and supporters who have stood by us throughout this journey. With their contribution, Womennovator has built one of the largest global networks of women entrepreneurs, with a presence in 100+ cities and 20+ countries.

A Shared Vision for Atmanirbhar Bharat

As quoted by Shri Sanjiv Singh, Honourable Joint Secretary, DPIIT:

“The signing of this MoU shall unlock diverse journeys of women #entrepreneurs that drive job creation and advance the #vision of an Atmanirbhar Bharat.
नारी अब सिर्फ सपने नहीं देखती,
वह उन्हें साकार करने की राह भी खुद चुनती।”

These words capture the spirit of this collaboration: women today are not just dreamers, but doers, innovators, and leaders building the foundation of a self-reliant India.

The Road Ahead

The signing of this MoU is not the end, but the beginning of a transformative journey. Together, Womennovator and Startup India (DPIIT) will:

• Launch WeNEST Cohorts across India.
• Roll out WeShop platforms nationally to boost women-led enterprises.
• Expand the 10K Fellowship to new regions and sectors.
• Drive LFPR-focused initiatives to bring more women into India’s workforce.
• Host innovation hackathons and challenges on sustainability, rural entrepreneurship, and social impact.

This partnership is about creating a future where women entrepreneurs are not just included but are at the center of India’s growth story.

👉 Learn more about our programs at www.womennovator.com
👉 Follow us on LinkedIn | Twitter | Instagram

Womennovator
Empowering Women | Enabling Innovation | Building the Future