Post Programme Report

AIRSWEEE All Road Show for Women’s Economic Empowerment through Entrepreneurship

6 - 9 March 2017 , , India

Supported by:

US Mission in India US Department of State

Report prepared by:

TiE Rajasthan C-97, Janpath, Lalkothi Scheme Jaipur, Rajasthan - 302015 T: +91 141 5104465 W: rajasthan.tie.org AIRSWEE Workshop – Jaipur

TiE Rajasthan, under the aegis of TiE Global and TiE Women successfully organised the All-India Road Show on Women’s Economic Empowerment through Entrepreneurship (Project AIRSWEEE) on 6 - 9 March 2017 at Hotel Holiday Inn, Jaipur. AIRSWEEE is a 4 day workshop funded and supported by US Mission in India, US Department of State with a motive to empower Indian women through workshops in Tier II and Tier III cities including Jaipur, Warangal, Coimbatore, Durgapur and Nagpur. 25 young women entrepreneurs underwent this workshop who represented diverse sectors and are at different stages of business.

Chief Guest at the Inaugural Session:  Smt Suman Sharma, Chairperson – Rajasthan State Commission for Women

US Mentors:  Ms Holly Flanagan, Managing Director - Gabriel Investments  Ms Trista Walker, President - Baldwin & Obenauf, Inc

Indian Mentors:  Mr Mahavir Pratap Sharma, Global Trustee, TiE; Chairman & Co Founder - RAIN  Ms Apra Kuchhal, Founder - We Care  Ms Archana Surana, Director - Arch Academy of Design  Mr Rajneesh Singhvi, Director - SME Consulting Pvt Ltd  Ms Richa Mahendra, Practice Head – FINESSE  Dr Pooja Mukul, Technical Director - Jaipur Foot Organisation  Mr Ganesh Jangir, CEO - Newndra Innovations  Ms Shalini Sheoran, Advocate - Shalini Sheoran & Associates

Dignitaries at the Valedictory Session:  Mr Siddharth Agrawal, President – TiE Rajasthan  Mr Girish , Member – Rajasthan State Committee on Startups; National Member, Startup Oasis and Immediate Past CEO - RVCF

Topics Covered:  Formalizing Concepts of  Best Practices in Human Resource Entrepreneurship Management and Operations  Opportunity Identification Management  Customer Identification &  Legal Considerations Segmentation  Business Models  Marketing & Sales  Go To Market Strategy  Funding & Finance  SWOT Analysis  Healthcare as an option for Startups  Business Model Canvas

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Inaugural Session:

Inaugural session of the programme started with welcome of the Chief Guest, Smt Suman Sharma, Chairperson – Rajasthan State Commission for Women and the US Mentors by Mr Siddharth Agrawal – President, TiE Rajasthan. Ms Sreedevi Devireddy, ED – TiE Hyderabad welcomed Indian mentors Ms Archana Surana and Ms Apra Kuchhal.

Mr Siddharth Agarwal during his Welcome Address informed that AIRSWEE is a programme to promote an entrepreneurial mindset by providing women with the knowledge and tools of an entrepreneurial possibility which can unleash dreams of growth and value creation with a very significant multiplier effect. He appreciated the efforts being made by US Mission.

Mr Siddharth Agrawal welcoming the Chief Guest and US Mentors

Smt Suman Sharma Ms Holly Flanagan Ms Trista Walker

Smt Suman Sharma, Hon’ble Chairperson - Rajasthan State Commission for Women was the Chief Guest at the Inaugural Session of workshop. Smt Sharma highlighted that it is difficult to succeed in all your endeavors when you have multiple tasks at your hands yet women especially Indian women who are used to multitasking have the ability to do so. She urged the participants to stop looking outside for support and to become a source of inspiration themselves. She also appraised efforts being made by US Mission in India and TiE to foster entrepreneurship. She wished the participants success in their endeavors.

Ms Holly Flanagan, Managing Director, Gabriel Investments and Ms Trista Walker, President at Baldwin & Obenauf, Inc. said the US Mission has involved in various programmes in India from climate change to social activities as part of its bilateral relations with the country. The objective of the workshop is empowering aspiring young women in Tier-II and Tier-III cities in India.

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Ms Apra Kuchhal, during her address highlighted the importance of mentoring and mentors in one’s life. Quoting her own life examples she suggested participants to not to stop learning even in any stage of business or life they are. Ms Archna Surana stated that empowering potential women entrepreneurs is a great way to boost economic growth. Here, project AIRSWEE can motivate women entrepreneurs to transform problems into opportunities and derive apt entrepreneurial solutions.

Mr Arun Pareek, Executive Director, TiE Rajasthan proposed a formal Vote of Thanks.

Smt Suman Sharma, Hon’ble Chairperson – Rajasthan State Commission for Women addressing the participants during the Inaugural Session. Also seen in the picture are (L-R) US Mentor - Ms Holly Flangan; Ms Archana Surana, Director – Arch Academy; Mr Siddhath Agrawal, President – TiE Rajasthan; Ms Apra Kuchhal, Founder – We Care and Ms Trista Walker – US Mentor.

US & Indian Mentors and TiE officials with Chief Guest

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After the inaugural, introduction and icebreaker session helped mentees to understand each other. Later, Ms Holly and Ms Trista efficiently covered the sessions on Formalizing Concepts of Entrepreneurship, Opportunity Identification, Customer Identification & Segmentation and Marketing & Sales on Day 1.

Sessions under progress with US Mentors - Ms Holly Flanagan and Ms Trista Walker

During the next days Sessions on Funding & Finance, Best Practices in Human Resource Management and Operations Management, Healthcare as an option for Startups, Legal Considerations, Business Models, Go To Market Strategy, SWOT Analysis, Business Model Canvas were taken up by US and Indian mentors. Mentors also shared information about how to use social media for market search in India.

Ms Sreedevi Devireddy – ED, TiE Hyderabad played an instrumental role of overlooker and steered the proceedings throughout the four days of workshop.

Engaging Sessions by Indian Mentors

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Visit to Jaipur Rugs Company Pvt Ltd www.jaipurrugsco.com

Jaipur Rugs Company Pvt Ltd manufactures and exports handmade carpet. This is a family business that lays importance in keeping family values alive.

Key learning from the visit: Jaipur Rugs works in very unique manner and promotes Doorstep Entrepreneurship involving more women towards financial independence without requiring them to move out of their homes, flexible work hours, freedom to mothers of young children to work as per their convenience, no loss of work days in transportation etc. Traditional Indian communities do not give women the opportunity to work outside the home - Jaipur Rugs’ model provides an easy solution to this.

AIRSWEE Jaipur Mentors,menteessand TIE officials with Mr N K Chaudhary, CMD and Ms Kavita Chaudhary – Design Director, Jaipur Rugs Company Pvt Ltd

Learning by Sharing

Mr N K Chaudhary, CMD, Jaipur Rugs Participating mentees at the shop floor of interacting with AIRSWEEE mentees Jaipur Rugs

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Visit to a Professional Education Institute : Arch Academy of Design www.archedu.org

Arch Academy of Design is a designing institution run by a women entrepreneur. The institute also houses an Entrepreneurship Cell. A guided visit to the academy followed by panel discussion with US Mentors was organised. Students keenly interacted with the mentors about their entrepreneurial plans during the Q&A session.

US Mentors - Ms Holly Flanagan and Ms Trista Walker; President, TiE Rajasthan - Mr Siddharth Agrawal; Director, Arch Academy - Ms Archana Surana and ED - TiE Hyderabad - Ms Sreedevi Devireddy during the interactive panel discussion with students of Arch Academy of Design

Ms Holly Flanagan and Ms Trista Walker mesmerized to see the art work by students of Arch Academy of Design. Also seen in the picture Mr Siddharth Agrawal, President - TiE Rajasthan and Mr Arun Pareek, Executive Director – TiE Rajasthan

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A picture perfect moment – Arch Academy family with US Mentors and TiE Rajasthan officials

Visit to an NGO : Muskaan – Foundation for Road Safety www.muskaanforroadsafety.com

Muskaan - Foundation for Road Safety is a registered not-for-profit trust committed to building a culture of safety on roads through Awareness, Education, Training and Advocacy. It was registered as a charitable Trust in the year 2001. From the visit it was learned that as road safety is a shared responsibility the NGO uses an integrated, community-centric approach to the complex issue of road safety.

Muskaan is an NGO founded by Ms Mridul Bhasin which is promoting road safety in Jaipur. Innovative ways being used by her team like road shows, educating people on traffic signals, campaigns in rural areas and sessions with police officials are few highlights.

US Mentors and TiE officials with Dr Mridul Bhasin, Founder – Muskaan Foundation

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Elevator Pitch and Valedictory Session:

Participating Mentees made small presentations about their learnings from the workshop and their business plans. Mr Girish Gupta, Member – Rajasthan State Committee on Startups; National Member, Startup Oasis and Immediate Past CEO of Rajasthan Venture Capital Fund; Ms Holly Flanagan; Ms Trista Walker and Mr Siddharth Agrawal listened to the mentees presentations for final selection of 5 mentees for further mentoring.

At the Valedictory Session, Certificates of Participation were presented to all participating mentees.

On this occasion, participating Woman Entrepreneurs unanimously thanked all mentors, US Mission in India and TiE. As per their feedback, they have learned many new things in the workshop and got an opportunity to understand their own business from a different perspective.

Elated participants after conclusion of AIRSWEE Jaipur Workshop

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Highlights of the AIRSWEEE Jaipur Workshop

 Although it was a good mix of male and female mentors at AIRSWEEE Workshop – Jaipur, yet it was a welcome sign that most of the mentors including US Mentors and the Chief Guest were women which itself has been a great motivation for the participating mentees here

 As per the feedback received from participants, both US Mentors were really helpful. Their presentations and problem solving suggestions were equally handy. Individual and group exercises given by them during the programme went very well in making the participants understand the concepts

 Amongst the Indian Mentors extempore address by Mr Mahavir Pratap Sharma, Global Trustee, TiE and Chairman & Co Founder – Rajasthan Angel Innovators Network on funding options for start-ups was very enlightening. Most of the mentees had questions for Mr Sharma about funding which he addressed efficiently

 Mr Siddharth Agrawal, President - TiE Rajasthan and Mr Girish Gupta, Member – Rajasthan State Committee on Startups; National Member, Startup Oasis and Immediate Past CEO - Rajasthan Venture Capital Fund listened to the elevator pitches and informed them about points of improvement for future

 All sessions prescribed as per agenda of the workshop held with sufficient time for each topic to be addressed. An additional session on Healthcare as an option for Startups was also organized

 Visits to Jaipur Rugs Company Pvt Ltd (Organization), Arch Academy of Design (Educational institution) and Muskaan - Foundation for Road Safety (NGO) were organized. All three places of visit are either being run by women or have women in their senior management role or are making a significant contribution towards women entrepreneurship.

AIRSWEEE Jaipur Workshop in News:

Links to Press Coverage: http://epaper.bhaskar.com/jaipur/jaipur-city-bhaskar/34/03092017/0/1/ http://epaper.bhaskar.com/jaipur/jaipur-city-bhaskar/34/03082017/0/2/ http://epaper.bhaskar.com/jaipur/jaipur-city-bhaskar/34/03072017/0/2/ http://epaper.bhaskar.com/jaipur/jaipur-city-bhaskar/34/03062017/0/1/

9 http://epaper.patrika.com/1128167/Rajasthan-Patrika-Jaipur/Rajasthan-Patrika- Jaipur#page/31/1 http://epaper.patrika.com/1129297/Rajasthan-Patrika-Jaipur/Rajasthan-Patrika- Jaipur#page/22 http://epaper.dailynews360.com/1128180/Metro-Mix/07-03-2017#page/2/2 http://epaper.dailynews360.com/1129307/Metro-Mix/08-03-2017#page/2/1 http://epapers.samacharjagat.com/article.php?articleid=SAMCHARJGT_JAI_20170309_2_ 18&arted=Jaipur&width=152px http://epapers.samacharjagat.com/article.php?articleid=SAMCHARJGT_JAI_20170308_2_ 7&arted=Jaipur&width=213px http://epapers.samacharjagat.com/epaper.php?edition=Jaipur%20Evening&date=2017-03- 08&pageno=2 http://epaper2.dnaindia.com/index.php?mod=1&pgnum=1&edcode=131002&pagedate=201 7-03-07 http://epaper2.dnaindia.com/index.php?mod=1&pgnum=1&edcode=131002&pagedate=201 7-03-07 http://www.indianwomenblog.org/us-investor-holly-flanagan-ties-indian-women-to-their- entrepreneurial-dreams/

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