IIM Bangalore’s NSRCEL launches rural entrepreneurship incubation programme

NEW DELHI: The Indian Institute of Management (IIM) Bangalore’s innovation and entrepreneurship hub, NSRCEL launched the rural entrepreneurship incubation programme to boost, enhance and strengthen the entrepreneurship and startup ecosystem in rural India.

NSRCEL will provide support to entrepreneurs from top mentors from industry, academia, the development sector and government. The shortlisted ventures will get an opportunity to pitch for incubation and access to grants.

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The hub will also help participants with key aspects of entrepreneurship such as how to stabilize the business including production, marketing and distribution, scale and strengthen the business model, working with local governments.

The incubation programme will also have a special focus on building and working with rural communities to create long-term trust and livelihoods.

Entrepreneurs, enterprises

The programme includes entrepreneurs such as young graduates of leading universities, corporate sector professionals looking to cross over to the development sector and development sector professionals.

“Focusing on actions for balanced inclusive development and to bridge socio-economic gaps, the programme is aimed at creating sustainable livelihoods and employment opportunities in remote rural areas. It further aims to attract, enrich and develop emerging entrepreneurial talent to solve problems of rural India,” said an official statement from IIM Bangalore.

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The nine rural enterprises that would be working with NSRCEL to create socio-economic impact by generating rural livelihoods are Kalapuri or Nirvi Handicrafts, IVillage Social Solutions, Indian Yards, Kulture Street, Ayang Trust, Bastar Se Bazar Tak, Karry Now, Mars Innovation - Growhitha and Sahrudaya Foods.

Anand Sri Ganesh, COO, NSRCEL, IIM Bangalore said, “The pandemic has exposed the huge socio-economic gaps and vulnerabilities in rural India, and there is a need to have sustainable and inclusive development. With this program, we are shifting our lens from urban-focused founders to those who are willing to bring visible changes in rural India.”