WiT-ACE, a women's skilling, and employment platform have collaborated with WhatsApp and NITI Aayog's Woman Entrepreneur Programme (WEP) to launch StepUp to ScaleUp, a programme that will direct and mentor Women Entrepreneurs.
WiT-ACE, which was established in 2018, is a forum dedicated to growing women's engagement in the STEM workforce. It raised $1 million earlier this month as part of its first seed fund, which was led by CitiusTech founders and will be used for scaling and strategic partnerships.
The programme is part of WhatsApp's “See Us, Hear Us” initiative that aims to highlight women's achievements. The first batch of the programme began last week after hundreds of applications were submitted.
Abhijit Bose, Head of WhatsApp India, reaffirmed the company's dedication to women's entrepreneurship in India, saying that the initiative aims to create a favourable atmosphere by making efficient resources and propositions available to help women scale their businesses.
“This further reflects our larger vision of strengthening economic growth with financial and digital inclusion. WhatsApp is determined to become a trusted partner for businesses in India and help them thrive to their true potential,” Abhijit added.
Via five one-on-one mentoring sessions and two masterclasses by experts on a topic of their choosing, industry veterans and experienced entrepreneurs will help participants overcome their entrepreneurial challenges and journey. Through fortnightly leadership contacts, it also provides exclusive access to business influencers.
Anuranjita Kumar, Founder, and CEO of WiT-ACE said, “The programme’s focus is on giving entrepreneurs the guidance they need to navigate the challenges and hurdles and help them make the right choices to grow. Physical resources and financial capital are available but mentorship often goes missing.”
While the current programme is still accepting applications for upcoming batches, women entrepreneurs who enroll will become members of the WiT-ACE alumni network and will be able to use the program's services in the future.
Women in Technology (WiT), India Forum focuses on increasing women's participation in STEM. It aims to close a gender gap in STEM leadership positions by involving, enabling, and hiring women at all stages of their lives, from a young girl to a seasoned professional.
