World Entrepreneurs Day At NEHHDC

*Guwahati, 21st August 2024: On the occasion of World Entrepreneurs Day, the North Eastern Handicrafts & Handlooms Development Corporation Ltd. (NEHHDC) proudly celebrated by hosting the Final Pitching Round and Bootcamp of the Tejaswini Assam Ideathon 2024. This prestigious event, held on 21st August 2024, was a part of NEHHDC’s ongoing commitment to empowering women entrepreneurs across Assam and fostering innovation within the region.

The Tejaswini Assam Ideathon 2024, an initiative spearheaded by the Women’s Cell, Industries & Commerce Department, Government of Assam, seeks to provide a robust platform for women aged 18 to 50 years to present their business ideas. The initiative aims to offer these aspiring entrepreneurs recognition, support, and access to a vast network of resources, encouraging them to turn their innovative ideas into viable business ventures.

The Final Pitching Round and Bootcamp were hosted at Assam Startup, The NEST, the ecosystem partner of the event. The Ideathon witnessed remarkable participation, with over 1,500 applications received from across the state. Out of these, more than 350 women entrepreneurs were shortlisted, and over 150 finalists participated in the bootcamp, showcasing their exceptional creativity, determination, and entrepreneurial spirit.

The event featured six zonal pitching rounds held in Guwahati, Jorhat, Dibrugarh, Silchar, Kokrajhar, and Tezpur. The finalists, who emerged as the most promising candidates, presented their business ideas to a panel of 39 esteemed jurors and benefited from the guidance of over 50 experienced mentors. The collaborative efforts of these jurors and mentors were instrumental in the successful execution of the event, further solidifying the Ideathon as a cornerstone initiative for women's entrepreneurship in Assam.

The Bootcamp kicked off with an enlightening session on "How to Pitch a Business Idea," led by Dr. Sriparna B. Baruah, Advisor, NEHHDC. Dr. Baruah provided invaluable insights and emphasized the importance of women stepping into the entrepreneurial space. This was followed by a motivational address from Smt. Maini Mahanta, Founder Editor of Nandini, who shared her inspiring entrepreneurial journey and urged participants to persevere in the face of challenges. Additionally, Shri Jiten Chandra Kalita, former Senior Faculty at the Indian Institute of Entrepreneurship (IIE), offered practical advice on product diversification, value addition, and fostering creativity.

The Bootcamp also featured a diverse pool of mentors, including prominent entrepreneurs such as Smt. Divija Rajhkhowa, Director, Assam Tribune; Dr. Madhumita Saikia, Founder, Signature Group of Institutions (SMT); Smt. Pratibha Das Hatibaruah, Founder and Director, Flugelsoft; Smt. Daydeep Chetia, Founder, Let's Learn Together; Smt. Tinat Atifa Masood, Founder and CEO, #IAmTheBest; Smt. Shradhanjali Sarma, Independent Legal Counsel; and Shri Rituraj Phukan, Founder, Pencil Design Studio. An interactive panel discussion further enriched the event, featuring insights from Shri Debarshi Bhattacharyya, AGM, NEDFi, and Shri Hemanta Haloi, Dy. Manager, NSIC. The event was graced by the presence of Smt. Krishna Hazarika Rao, DGM (PR), OIL India Limited, who took part in the pitching rounds.

Participants received essential knowledge and skills through sessions on branding, packaging, effective pitching techniques, and confidence-building. The feedback from the participants was overwhelmingly positive, reflecting a high level of satisfaction with the quality and relevance of the sessions. The presence of academicians, industry experts, and mentors served to inspire and motivate the participants on their entrepreneurial journey.

With a total prize fund of Rs. 5 Lakhs and extensive mentorship support for over 300 women entrepreneurs, the Tejaswini Assam Ideathon 2024 is expected to leave a lasting impact on the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Assam, fostering continued innovation and growth among women entrepreneurs.

NEHHDC remains dedicated to nurturing and supporting women entrepreneurs across the state. The successful execution of the Tejaswini Assam Ideathon 2024, celebrated on World Entrepreneurs Day, is a testament to this commitment, as the initiative continues to drive innovation, empowerment, and economic growth in NER