The Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM), a prominent organization for startup promotion in the coastal state of South India, has announced the organization of the ‘Women Startup Summit 2019’ in association with the Indian Women Network of Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). The event aims to foster and motivate aspiring women entrepreneurs and develop a more inclusive entrepreneurship ecosystem in Kerala.
A Platform to Encourage Women in Entrepreneurship
The purpose of this one-day event is to inspire upcoming women professionals to embark on their entrepreneurial journey. The event centers around the theme of “Developing an Inclusive Entrepreneurship Ecosystem”. This theme signifies the importance of an all-embracing business environment that encourages and supports women’s involvement.
The summit will feature about 20 women-led startups shortlisted from the “She Loves Tech” national grand challenge. Launched in 2015, She Loves Tech is a global platform dedicated to supporting women entrepreneurs and startups enhancing women’s lives globally.
She Loves Tech: A Global Initiative
In its commitment to improve women’s life worldwide, She Loves Tech introduced the 2019 Global Startup Competition—the world’s largest startup competition focusing on women and technology. For the first time, the competition will be held in India in association with KSUM.
Kerala boasts a 13% women’s participation rate in the tech-startup ecosystem, a number the state government is keen on increasing by adopting proactive measures. It is these steps towards creating an environment conducive to women in technology that have led to the state’s association with global initiatives like She Loves Tech.
Snapshot of Women Involvement in Kerala’s Tech Startups
| Women Participation in Kerala’s Tech Startups | |
|---|---|
| Percentage of Women Involvement | 13% |
| Number of Women-Led Startups to be Showcased | 20 |
| Global Startup Competition Hosts | KSUM in collaboration with She Loves Tech |
About Confederation of Indian Industry (CII)
The Confederation of Indian Industry, a non-governmental and non-profit organization, plays an active part in India’s developmental process. Established in 1895, CII is industry-led and industry-managed, boasting approximately 9000 members from various private and public sectors, SMEs, and MNCs. It also has an indirect membership of over 300,000 enterprises from nearly 276 national and regional industry bodies.
CII’s mission is to foster an environment favourable for India’s development by forming partnerships with the industry, government, and civil society. This is achieved through advisory and consultative processes, making it an essential player in the startup ecosystem and initiatives like the Women Startup Summit.
