Chennai-based co-working space startup WSquare has launched W-INcubate, an Incubation center exclusively for women entrepreneurs and women-led startups.
Since launch WSquare has worked closely with more than 120 women entrepreneurs through its marketplace. Through the incubation centre, WSquare wants to help growth-stage and some early-stage startups with guidance and knowledge on branding and marketing, mentorship, networking, hands-on help and workshop with industry leaders, office space for up to a year, and access to seed funding and investment opportunities.
Vandhana, Co-Founder and CEO of WSquare says that the focus is on growth-stage startups that have been operational for a few months and are now looking at the next stage of expansion. W-INcubate is also open to a few idea-stage startups if the idea is good enough.
W-INcubate’s first batch will be a 12- week residential boot-camp accelerator program for Chennai-based women entrepreneurs and startups that will provide guidance from seasoned women entrepreneurs, business leaders, and investors. WSquare is talking to several angel investors to invest in these startups. The first batch will have 10-12 startups.
“We will support women in all aspects of taking their business to the next level, starting from comprehensive IP advise, conferences, career fairs, strategic consulting and training workshops and connect founders to the resources they need to fuel growth,” Vandhana adds.
“We want to support entrepreneurs in the Media, Healthcare, Retail, Food and Product space as we find a lot of potential among women entrepreneurs in these sectors. We want to provide more access to women entrepreneurs' to the growth capital and also the number of women investing in early stage capital markets,” says Jinal Patel, Co-Founder and COO of WSquare.
At the end of the accelerator program, there will be a pitch fest where a few startups from the program will get to pitch to investors directly.
W-INcubate will also provide a platform through their marketplace, where women entrepreneurs can network with other female entrepreneurs and local businesses, and provide virtual and in-person events where they can learn, connect, gain exposure, and more importantly get funded.