GUWAHATI: The final pitching round and bootcamp of the Tejaswini Assam Ideathon 2024, a business idea competition aimed at fostering entrepreneurship among women in Assam, were successfully conducted on Wednesday.
This event, aligning with World Entrepreneurs Day, underscores the commitment to empowering women entrepreneurs and advancing innovative solutions to regional challenges.
The Tejaswini Assam Ideathon 2024 is an initiative of the Women’s Cell of the state government’s Industries & Commerce Department and implemented by the North Eastern Handicrafts & Handlooms Development Corporation Ltd. (NEHHDC).
The initiative seeks to provide a platform for women, aged 18 to 50 years, from Assam to present their business ideas, offering them opportunities for recognition, support, and access to a wider network of resources.
The bootcamp and final pitching round were hosted at Assam Startup – The NEST, the ecosystem partner of the event.
Pitching rounds were conducted across six zones namely Guwahati, Jorhat, Dibrugarh, Silchar, Kokrajhar, and Tezpur.
The contest received an overwhelming response with over 1,500 applications, of which more than 350 women entrepreneurs were shortlisted to present their ideas.
In the final pitching round, over 150 finalists participated in the bootcamp, showcasing exceptional creativity, determination, and an entrepreneurial spirit in presenting innovative solutions to local challenges.
The entire evaluation process was supported by 39 jurors and over 50 mentors, whose dedicated efforts were pivotal to the success of the pitching rounds and the broader Tejaswini initiative.
The Tejaswini Assam Ideathon 2024 offers a total prize fund of Rs 5 lakh coupled with extensive mentorship support for over 300 women entrepreneurs.
The networks and opportunities created through this initiative are anticipated to have a long-lasting impact on the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Assam, fostering continued innovation and growth among women entrepreneurs.
The bootcamp commenced with an insightful session on “How to Pitch a Business Idea” by Dr. Sriparna B. Baruah, Advisor, NEHHDC, who provided valuable guidance to the participants.
The bootcamp featured a diverse pool of mentors, including both young and seasoned entrepreneurs, such as Divija Rajhkhowa, Director, Assam Tribune; Dr. Madhumita Saikia, Founder, Signature Group of Institutions (SMT); Smt. Pratibha Das Hatibaruah, Founder and Director, Flugelsoft among others.
The bootcamp provided participants with essential knowledge and skills through sessions on branding, packaging, effective pitching techniques, and confidence-building.
