New Delhi: India Accelerator collaborated with USAID DAI (United States Agency for International Development – Development Alternatives, Inc.) to successfully organize the WEScale Accelerator Program for Women Entrepreneurs (WEs). This innovative program aimed to empower and support women entrepreneurs in the technology sector across South Asia. India Accelerator joined forces with renowned organizations, including Accelerating Asia, Lankan Angel Network, Bangladesh Angels, and SAFAL Partners, to identify and scale 120 impactful journeys of women entrepreneurs in the region. India Accelerator organized a three-day event at Le Meridien, Gurgaon, from July 11th to 13th, 2023, to commemorate and conclude the Accelerator Program.
The WEScale Accelerator Program was a 12-week cross-country, regional initiative designed to equip 120 WEs with the knowledge, resources, and robust support network required for scaling their ventures locally. Additionally, the program was focused on preparing the WEs funding through the various masterclasses organized during the event. “We were thrilled to have collaborated with USAID and the leading entities from 5 countries that participated in this global initiative for Women Entrepreneurs. It was one of its kind initiative which focused on providing a platform for women founders across Asia to equip themselves with the best of learning opportunities and network with each other,” said Mona Singh, Co-founder of India Accelerator.
The WeScale Accelerator Program reached its pinnacle with the highly impactful WeScale+ Symposium. This momentous event marked the program’s conclusion, providing participants with a comprehensive understanding of its objectives, dynamic activities, and unparalleled networking opportunities. This program represented India Accelerator’s commitment as IA Impact Labs to fostering gender diversity and inclusivity in the technology industry, providing women entrepreneurs with the tools and opportunities to thrive and strengthen our cross-border relations.
The symposium encompassed a series of captivating sessions, culminating in a thought-provoking panel discussion on the Indian startup landscape. This insightful session delved into the intricacies of the Indian startup ecosystem, illuminating participants on key practices essential for scaling their businesses effectively. Besides this, the event provided continuous consultation opportunities with the Entrepreneur in Residences of India Accelerator and Accelerating Asia (EiR).
“The WEScale initiative, funded by USAID DAI, promotes gender-inclusive agendas, empowering women to participate in the digital economy safely and effectively. We are delighted by the strong bonds formed and anticipate a robust network for replicating best practices and fostering cross-border trade along with many success stories coming out of WEScale”, said Tina Jabeen, Technical Advisor and Mentor in Residence, WeScale, USAID DAI.
The 3-day event also offered valuable pitch practice sessions, mentorship opportunities, and an investor showcase where participants presented their ventures to potential investors and network with industry professionals.
About India Accelerator
India Accelerator is the first GAN-partnered accelerator in India, endeavouring to provide 360-degree cross-functional mentorship, business growth and funding to entrepreneurs. We are honoured to share that Startup India, Government of India, has recognized India Accelerator (IA) as the ‘Best Accelerator of the Country’. We have created a vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem in the country, have 200+ startups under our portfolio, and have 1600+ mentors in our network who help startups in our industry-focused specialized verticals, of which IA Impact Labs focuses on United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and impact-centric ecosystems. We work closely with Corporates and academia to help promote the development of an entrepreneurial mindset and generate innovative solutions to their real-world problems.
