NITI Aayog & New Shop Empower Women Entrepreneurs with EmpowHER Biz

Imagine a young woman in her 20s, fueled by dreams of running her own business, yet held back by societal norms, financial barriers, or a lack of guidance. Now imagine a platform that not only opens doors for her but also equips her with every tool necessary to succeed... sounds interesting, right? 

Well! This is the story of NITI Aayog's Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) and its groundbreaking initiative, EmpowHER Biz – Sapno Ki Udaan, launched in collaboration with New Shop, India’s largest 24/7 convenience retail chain. TICE presents you the key details of this initiative.

This initiative is more than just a program—it’s a lifeline for women entrepreneurs, aiming to shatter barriers and unlock opportunities in the retail sector. Here’s how it’s making waves in the lives of aspiring businesswomen across India.

EmpowHER Biz: A Leap Towards Empowerment

The EmpowHER Biz initiative offers a blend of mentorship and hands-on training to women aged 18–35. With a focus on skills like retail management, digital tools, financial literacy, and business development, the program is designed to empower participants with a strong foundation to succeed in the competitive retail sector.

What sets this program apart is its ability to directly address key challenges faced by women entrepreneurs, including limited access to resources and societal biases. By creating a supportive ecosystem, EmpowHER Biz ensures that participants are not just trained but are also ready to take charge as entrepreneurs.

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Breaking Barriers with Franchise Opportunities

In a significant step to reduce entry barriers, the top 20 participants of the program will receive a 100% waiver on New Shop franchise fees. This means they can own and operate their retail businesses without the usual financial constraints. With this, women from regions like Delhi NCR, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat can turn their entrepreneurial aspirations into reality.

WEP: Building a Legacy of Empowerment

The Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP), launched in 2018 by NITI Aayog, has steadily grown into a robust support system for women entrepreneurs. Transitioning into a public-private partnership model in 2022, WEP now collaborates with over 30 public and private sector organizations to offer scalable programs under its Award to Reward (ATR) framework.

WEP's comprehensive approach includes:

• Market linkages
• Access to finance
• Training and mentoring
• Legal assistance
• Business development support

This platform has become a beacon of hope for women entrepreneurs, fostering an environment where dreams are nurtured and challenges are overcome.

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New Shop: Driving Retail Inclusion

With over 200 retail stores across 35 cities in 18 states, New Shop is no stranger to empowering entrepreneurs. By leveraging its expansive footprint in high-density neighborhoods, highways, and transit hubs, the company aims to support 10,000 entrepreneurs by 2030.

This partnership with WEP aligns perfectly with New Shop’s vision of democratizing retail ownership, especially for young and first-time business owners.

Speaking about the collaboration, Anna Roy, Principal Economic Adviser, NITI Aayog and Mission Director, WEP, shared, "EmpowHER Biz is our largest Award to Reward collaboration to date. Women entrepreneurs face challenges such as societal biases, limited access to financing, and mentorship. This partnership with New Shop helps overcome these barriers, laying a strong foundation for their entrepreneurial journeys."

Echoing her sentiments, Aastha Almast, Co-founder of New Shop, remarked, "New Shop is committed to democratizing retail ownership. Through this partnership with WEP, we aim to provide valuable training, mentorship, and financial support to empower women entrepreneurs and integrate them into the New Shop franchising ecosystem."

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A New Era of Inclusive Growth

The EmpowHER Biz – Sapno Ki Udaan initiative stands as a testament to the power of collaboration in fostering women-led entrepreneurship in India. It’s not just about creating opportunities; it’s about enabling sustainable growth and inclusivity in the retail sector.

As the program gears up to select 50 participants, the impact of this initiative is set to reverberate across communities, inspiring countless women to dream big and take charge of their destinies.

This is not just a story of empowerment—it’s a story of transformation. One shop, one dream, and one empowered woman at a time.

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