PRIF Social Impact Incubator for Women

About the Program

The labour force participation of women in India is among the lowest. While India is one of the largest countries with a booming startup scene, majority of them has been founded by men. But clearly there are still some impediments in the entrepreneurial ambitions of women. Social Impact Incubator for Women Entrepreneurs at IIM Calcutta Innovation Park, in partnership with Pernod Ricard India Foundation has been exclusively designed for Women Entrepreneurs, aiming to build a supportive biosphere for women to step alongside and share this entrepreneurial journey.

Program Benefits

The selected Cohort for the Social Incubator for Women Program will have a mix of fellows and incubatees. Multiple valuable benefits will be provided to the entrepreneurs selected for the program.

  • The program will be of 8 months duration
  • Upto 12 startups will be selected as Incubatees
  • Additional upto 15 startups will be selected as Fellows
  • Benefits for Incubatees
    • Each Incubatee will be eligible for a seed fund uptoRs 25,00,000
  • Benefits for Fellows
    • Each Fellow will be given a fellowship uptoRs 50,000/- per month to pursue their entrepreneurial activities
  • Mentorship & Guidance from IIM Calcutta Innovation Park
  • Attend customized Capacity Building Programs
  • Access toIIM Calcutta Innovation Park Network
  • Market and Investor Connect
  • Access to co-working space and other shared services on preferential rates

Timeline

Call for Application: Start Date – Dec 5, 2019 ; End Date – Jan5, 2020
Announcement of First Shortlist: Jan 23, 2020
Announcement of Second Shortlist: Feb 10, 2020
Pitch Workshop: Feb 27, 2020
Pitch to the Jury: Mar 5, 2020
Announcement of Selected Candidates: Mar 8, 2020 (International Women’s Day)
Onboarding and Start Date for Incubation: Mar 15, 2020
Onboarding Bootcamp:  Mar 15-18, 2020
End Date of Incubation: Oct 31, 2020

Eligibility

  • Should be led by at least one-woman full-time founder / co-founder.
  • The applicant should be a citizen of India.
  • Early-stage Start-ups working on solutions that address the socio-economic needs of India.
  • Having at least a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) with fair degree of Customer Validation or Proof of Concept (POC).

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an idea?
A business idea is a concept for commercial purposes and typically centers on a product or service that can be sold for money by adopting an operational and practical model. The characteristics of a unique business idea are:

  • It must fulfill customer needs.
  • It should be innovative and solve market failure
  • Uniqueness in features and appeal
  • Clear Focus
  • Profitable in the long run

Who is eligible to apply?

  • Early stage ventures with woman founder / co-founder.
  • The venture is in the early revenue stage or has a prototype/working model.
  • The venture should be addressing a pressing societal need, working in the grass root level, generating income for the people in the poverty line and bringing a positive impact in the livelihood of the masses.
  • The venture should have a determinable revenue model.
  • There is no restriction on the age or background of applicants
  • The applicant should have proficiency in the English language

How to apply?
You may go to the application page http://contest.localhost/iimcip/apply-now/pernod-ricard and apply. In case of doubts you can email contact@iimcip.org.

How will I know if my application is selected?
The list of selected candidates will be published in IIMCIP webpage. The selected candidates will also be notified through their registered email id and phone number.

What is incubation?
Incubation is a process whereby an entrepreneur/organization get help for their new and startup business to develop by providing services such as management training, capital or office space. The incubation provides the eco-system for harnessing new business idea/concept and develop it into a commercial venture.

What is IIM Calcutta Innovation Park?
IIM Calcutta innovation Park (IIMCIP) is a nonprofit company set up under the aegis of IIM Calcutta to promote entrepreneurship and innovation and established itself as a premier hub of entrepreneurship development in East and Northeast India.

What is PRICF
Pernod Ricard India Charitable Foundation (PRICF) has been recognized as a Global Compact LEAD company, demonstrating its ongoing commitment to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals and its Ten Principles for responsible business. The Group is the only wine and spirits company to receive this recognition this year. It has always been committed to driving sustainability and creating impact. Driven by the desire to bridge the gaps that keep social enterprises from reaching their potential, Pernod Ricard India Charitable Foundation has launched the Social Impact Incubator program.

What is a start up?
An entity shall be considered as a Startup:
i. Upto a period of seven years from the date of incorporation/registration, if it is incorporated as a private limited company (as defined in the Companies Act, 2013) or registered as a partnership firm (registered under section 59 of the Partnership Act, 1932) or a limited liability partnership (under the Limited Liability Partnership Act, 2008) in India. In the case of Startups in the biotechnology sector, the period shall be upto ten years from the date of its incorporation/ registration
ii. Turnover of the entity for any of the financial years since incorporation/ registration has not exceeded Rs. 25 crore
iii. Entity is working towards innovation, development or improvement of products or processes or services, or if it is a scalable business model with a high potential of employment generation or wealth creation.

What is Seed Capital?
‘Seed Capital’ refers to the money that is required to start a new business, whether for office space, permits, licenses, inventory, product development and manufacturing, marketing or any other expense.

What is Mentoring?
Mentoring involves advising or training an individual or a group of individuals and guiding them pertaining to their respective activity or domain. This involves counseling, training and guidance by experts. A mentor can be anyone who helps a new individual learn and understand the nuances of a particular activity/work/business/art/trade. Mentor usually have long years of hands on expertise in their area of work and have demonstrated success in their field.

What is Equity?
In most simple form ‘Equity’ is the promoter money invested in the business. There are more sophisticated forms of equity capital when more investors invests in the business. It is the risk capital the investors bring to the business. The equity capital helps raising debt capital from banks and financial institutions.

What is a debt?
It is the borrowed money as loan from institutions like banks, non-banking finance companies (NBFCs) and financial institutions. The loan amount is for a definite tenure and carries an interest on the amount borrowed.

What is a Revenue Model?
It is a process to identify the various sources of revenue generation of the business. It helps capture the value proposition and revenue sources for the goods and services of any business. A clear revenue model is important for sustainability of the business.

What is Market Demand?
The requirement of any goods and services by the users and customers is defined as market demand. In traditional economics the supply and demand generates the businesses and defines the price of the goods and services. In a globalized world in current times, the market definitions can extend from local to global and the demand can be accordingly assessed. At times the ease of use of an existing service and breaking traditional service methods creates market demand. These are services of “mobile”, platforms like “ola/uber” which has created new demand.

What is a Differentiator?
The product/services which are traditionally in the market may be improved upon in a multiple manner so as to differentiate them. The product/service differentiator usually comes with improvement of quality, service and overall standardization. For example, the intervention of technology helped in railway ticket/bus ticket and hotel booking. Similarly, packaging of milk helped it improve ease of handling and sale anytime during the day.

What is a Proof of Concept (PoC)?
Any new idea or concept when translates into a product/services is first tested within closed group of experts is a testimony of the proof of concept. The incubation centers are usually the places that provide the support and services for proof of concept of new idea/concept. The PoC is a stage before the test marketing (or beta stage) of any product/services.

What is innovation?
The process of improvement in the existing product/services in its manufacturing/delivery/use and applicability by way of technology and enhances efficiency adding to its value proposition/benefits is termed as innovation. For example the mobile app services are innovation for delivering product and services which were earlier possible to be delivered only through a computer.

What is social impact?
Social impact means addressing a pressing societal need while working in the grass root level, generating employment for the people in the poverty line and bringing a positive impact in the livelihood of the masses.

What is a social enterprise?
Social enterprises have both business goals and social goals. They work towards solving issues in the grass root level in a scalable and financially sustainable way. They provide income generation opportunities for the people in the poverty line and hence bring a positive impact in the livelihood of the masses.

What is an enterprise?
An Enterprise is a legal entity usually small that helps conduct business in a private and profitable manner to any individual or group of individuals. The definition for micro and small enterprises is defined depending on the investment that is made in the core plant and machinery/turnover recorded at the end of fiscal year.

What is an incubator?
Incubator is a brick and mortar structure which houses the desired support services in terms of management, technology, experts, common services and associated services that is required for helping new business.

What is a problem statement?
Defining the challenges in a business and in production of products or delivery of services in clear terms is a problem statement. Writing a problem statement helps in analysis and arriving at solutions to the challenges.

What do you mean by a sustainable business?
The business that focuses and registers enough profits so as to serve its own cost of existence and grow on a year on year basis is a sustainable business. The products and services of the business remains relevant in its value proposition and benefits to its customers to be in demand sustains itself.

Partners

Sattva

Contact Us

  • Contact Detail of the Program Manager
  • In case of any question / concern of an applicant, a short form to Fill Up and Submit

Terms and Conditions

  • The information provided through the application will be kept strictly confidential and will be used for the purpose of the program only.
  • The decision of the organizing team, regarding selection of candidates, is final, firm and binding.
  • The application and / or incubation / fellowship will be cancelled if misrepresentation of facts are found at any point of time.
  • During various stages of the program the participants need to disclose information of the company.
  • The seed funding to be provided to the entrepreneurs will be against equity (to be decided at the time of funding).