The government of Tamil Nadu announced a new Startup Mission designed exclusively for women entrepreneurs. The program aims to provide substantial support and resources to empower women in initiating and growing their businesses while also furnishing a significant boost to the startup ecosystem in the state.  

Tamil Nadu unveiled its annual budget for 2023-24, emphasizing its commitment to fostering entrepreneurship and innovation.  

Throughout history, women have been subject to discrimination and exclusion from leadership positions in the workplace. It has resulted in a significant underrepresentation of women in top positions across many industries. One effective solution to tackle this problem and empower women to take control of their economic lives is by encouraging and supporting them to start their own businesses.

What is Amma Women's Startup Mission?

The campaign called "Amma Women's Startup Mission" aims to encourage female entrepreneurs by giving them a platform to share their creative ideas and launch their own businesses. The mission, which has been allocated INR 50 crore rupee budget by the state government, aims to provide financial and technical support to startups run by women. Furthermore, it aims to establish a nurturing environment in Tamil Nadu for female entrepreneurs.

The Tamil Nadu government has taken a crucial step towards achieving gender equality and creating a more inclusive space for women entrepreneurs by announcing a special Startup Mission designed exclusively for women.

To achieve this, the government plans to partner with industry experts and investors to provide mentorship and guidance.

What did Tamil Nadu's Finance Minister say?

"Women entrepreneurs continue to face difficulties in accessing adequate, timely credit and marketing of products. To address these challenges, the government will establish an exclusive Startup Mission for women. This mission will facilitate women entrepreneurs in all aspects of their business," 

Tamil Nadu Finance Minister Palanivel Thiaga Rajan said on Monday while presenting his budget for 2023-24.

Sivarajah Ramanathan, CEO and Mission Director of Tamil Nadu Startup and Innovation Mission, stressed the relevance of women's participation in reaching Tamil Nadu's objective of a $1 trillion economy by 2030 even though the specifics of its implementation were not immediately released. He claimed that this will inspire more women to join the startup scene.

 “For Tamil Nadu to achieve its target of USD 1 trillion economy by 2030 – women’s participation is important. This will push more women to get into the startup ecosystem.”

Furthermore, the Tamil Nadu government has allocated a budget of INR 100 crore to support the growth of incubators in the state. These incubators will be set up across various sectors, including agriculture, healthcare, manufacturing, and technology. The goal is to create a robust startup ecosystem in Tamil Nadu that will attract investment and generate job opportunities for the state’s youth.

To further facilitate the growth of startups, the government is proposing the establishment of a Startup Promotion Council. The council will be responsible for creating a policy framework for startups, promoting innovation, and providing support to startups through various schemes and programs.

The Tamil Nadu government has also earmarked a whopping sum of INR 100 crores for the third edition of the Global Investors Summit that will be held in the state from January 11-13, 2024.