Parul University concludes WE Women Start-up Meet

Women Entrepreneurs Empower Women towards Entrepreneurship

Using
innovation and entrepreneurial strategy city based Parul University created a
platform for women to empower them towards entrepreneurship. “WE, Women’s
Start-up Meet” provides a grand platform for recognising and appreciated the
efforts of women entrepreneurs across the nation who made their mark in the
economic and social development of India. 

The two
day festival hosted some of Gujarat’s most renowned female icons and business
personalities such as Anar Patel, Founder, Craftroots- An initiative by
Gramshree to provide empowerment to artisans especially women artisan and
promote Gujarat’s craftsmanship, Dr. Falguni Vasavada-Oza, Professor, MICA,
Ruzan Khambatta, Social entrepreneur, Ashu Manchandana founder and trainer at
Life Training Institute and Miss India Pride of Nation 2019 winner Pooja Desai.
The speakers share stories of their start-up journeys, which not only enlighten
but also empower the budding female entrepreneurs of Parul University.   

The
Festival was held as part of the University’s series of events in celebration
and honour of Women’s month along with the need for promoting and developing an
ideal ecosystem for entrepreneurship in India. The event featured panel
discussions, storytelling sessions, idea generation platforms and engagement
sessions, all strategically designed to provide the women participants a wide
exposure to new avenues of start-up opportunities. 

During
her opening remarks, chief guest Anar Patel shared her experiences and
challenges coming up with her 12 year old start-up which is working towards
bridging the gap between the Indian craftsman and the business sector. “I
believe any start-up should be centred on promoting the values of the society
and the nation, and this is the one thing we have done as women entrepreneurs.
We have been actively engaged in promoting the dignity of our artists, while at
the same time enterprising their creations”, said Patel. 

The event
also went on to act as a platform for honouring some of the women whose work in
the start-up community has made an impact on India’s socio-economic landscape
through awards and facilitations. The start-up meet also featured panel
discussion, where the speakers discussed various topics such as the
significance of entrepreneurship and key strategies to becoming an
entrepreneur. In addition to its focus on the business sector, the event also
focused on the aspect of women empowerment. 

“Today
entrepreneurship stands as one of the most highlighted elements of our
societies, not only because of its economic significance, but also as a vehicle
for empowering women. Being a student of business and a woman, I am more than
delighted for the exposure which I have received from  WE Start-up meet,
as it has taught me and many other girls that it is possible to be a part of
the entrepreneurship community” said Chelsea Pinheiro, a Business
Administration student of the University. 

This all
female majority entrepreneurship  gathering also acted as a career
launching, idea shaping and nurturing platform for the women business aspirants
of Parul University. It featured pitching sessions, where the participants got
the opportunity of presenting their ideas before a panel of experts, and
receiving personalised mentoring on how to navigate their business models. This
festival was inline with the University’s agenda towards promoting
entrepreneurship in India, and in particular, ensuring the collective inclusion
of both men and women within the start-up community. 

“Entrepreneurship
presents women with a platform, not for them to look for the jobs but for them
to create the jobs, and to not look into conventional domains of work but for
them to create new domains, full of opportunities for women and young girls
within our societies and within our nation. I believe this women start-up meet
was instrumental towards encouraging and empowering our young girls, with the
boldness to actively participate in the start-up community and bring change to
the society”, said Dr Komal Patel, the University’s Managing Trustee.