Patna, 6 Aug (Representative) In order to support prospective women entrepreneurs and early-stage business owners from Bihar and Jharkhand, the U.S. Consulate Kolkata would provide them U.S-style online education with guided facilitation from U.S. State Department alumni, local business women, and other partners. Acting Consul General Monica Shie of U.S. Consulate Kolkata said here today in an interactive session that U.S. General Kolkata in partnership with Startup India, Aroh Foundation and Nexus Start-up Hub @ the American Center, New Delhi has invited applications for the Women’s Global Development Prosperity (W-GDP) Initiative “Academy for Women Entrepreneurs” (AWE) in Bihar and Jharkhand. Monica Shie said that AWE will support a selected cohort of 90 prospective women entrepreneurs and early-stage business owners from Bihar and Jharkhand by providing U.S-style online education with guided facilitation from U.S. State Department alumni, local business women, and other partners.
The selected participants will join an AWE network that will support participants’ access to peer-to-peer mentorship, business partners, and scaling opportunities with businesses in the region and in the United States. The program is running an Idea Challenge, and aspiring women entrepreneurs can apply to win AWS credits worth 1000 dollar . In phase 2, women entrepreneurs will undergo an online Dream builder program from the University of Arizona. In phase 3, high-potential women entrepreneurs will proceed to Kolkata for a bootcamp and pitching session. At least 6 (six) women entrepreneurs will receive AWS credits worth 5000 dollar and incubation support in one of the state incubators. “The U.S. Consulate General Kolkata is committed to strengthening the entrepreneurship ecosystem in East India, with a particular emphasis on empowering women.
Monica Shie said that the Academy of Women Entrepreneurs program has already proven to be a success in the Northeast, and U.S. Consulate can now bring this program to Bihar and Jharkhand. She appealed to the women entrepreneurs and early-stage business owners to apply for this unique U.S. Department of State opportunity. She said that AWE program managers conducted roadshows in Patna, Begusarai and Nalanda in Bihar and in Ranchi, Jamshedpur and Dhanbad in Jharkhand with leading institutions in the first week of August. State-level organizations Startup Bihar and Startup Jharkhand are supporting AWE initiatives to nurture women entrepreneurs and help them set up innovative ventures in respective states, she informed.