1. WEE in 2016
INTRODUCTION
Women Entrepreneurship and Empowerment (WEE) is a first of its kind social national initiative by IIT Delhi to
strengthen women eco system. WEE has been founded under the vision of IIT Delhi Director: Prof V. Ramgopal Rao and
is supported by Department of Science of Technology, Government of India.
WEE intends to focus and ignite a fire amongst women from a college going student to a middle aged
housewife to embrace entrepreneurship as a viable, fulfilling career option. WEE has created a high
powered program designed to address the specific needs, challenges and opportunities faced by women
entrepreneurs. The program caters to financial and business fundamentals that every women
entrepreneur must know to run her business profitably. It enables chosen women entrepreneurs to
understand their business ideas, carve value proposition, and understand customer needs and channels
to reach them, product positioning, leadership style development, strategic thinking and specifics of the
industry. The program was presented in an” Exclusive stakeholder Round Table Conference” at IIT Delhi
under the chairmanship of Director: Prof V. Ramgopal Rao to get the support of relevant stakeholders
and incorporate their feedback to make WEE program a world class Women Entrepreneurship and
Accelerate program.
We are extremely thankful to
Prof Ramgopal Rao,
Prof M Balakrishnan,
Prof Sanjeev Sanghi,
Prof P.V.M Rao
Dr. Anil Wali
Dr Sandeep Chatterjee for their valuable
guidance and vision for WEE Mentorship
Programme
WEE Exclusive Stakeholder Feedback Round Table: 16th Aug’16 at IIT Delhi
2. WEE in 2016
WEE Launch
WEE was launched on September 26th, 2016 at IIT-Delhi. WEE was inaugurated by:
Ms. Deepa Malik: first Indian woman to win medal at Paralympic games, Mr. Amitabh Kant, CEO, Niti Aayog, Prof V.
Ramgopal Rao, Director, IIT Delhi , Mr Harkesh Mittal, Head, National Science Technology Entrepreneurship and
Development Board, Ms. Shereen Bhan, Managing Editor of CNBC Network-18 , Ms. Asa Torkelson, UNWomen, Deputy
Representative India and Multi Country, Ms Nita Kapoor, Head, VCCircle and Mr Jappreet Sethi, Co-founder Yo startups
and many other dignitaries.
L to R: Ms. Aparna Saroagi,
Cofounder & Executive
Chairperson WEE, Ms Nita
Kapoor, Mr Harkesh Mittal,
Prof V.Ramgopal Rao, Mr
Amitabh Kant, Ms Shereen
Bhan,, Ms Deepa Malik, Ms
Asa Torkelson, Mr Jappreet
Sethi,Dr Anil Wali, Dr
Sarandeep Singh, CEO &
Chairman:WEE
3. Ms Shereen Bhan at WEE launch function. She energized the gathering by
giving inspiring examples of leading women entrepreneurs.
Deepa Malik, first Indian woman to win medal in Paralympic
games, sharing her Solution Mode approach at the WEE
launch.
Mr Amitabh Kant, CEO, Niti Aayog highlighting Women Empowerment is must for
any country to grow at WEE Launch.
Some more glimpses of the launch
WEE in 2016
Prof V. Ramgopal Rao, Director IIT Delhi sharing his
commitement for Women Empowerment.
4. WEE in 2016
WEE Participation in the Global Events
WEE was chosen by the DST, Government of India to represent the Indian Women Ecosystem and Mentorship to a high-
ranking Israeli delegation during their visit to India in December ‘16. We are thankful to Mr Ashutosh Sharma,
Secretary, DST, GOI and Mr Harkesh Mittal for giving us this opportunity.
WEE presenting and exchanging thoughts with the Hon’ble Israeli Minister of Science &
Technology and Space, Mr. Ofir Akunis and his delegation of superior ranks from Israel.
5. WEE Participation in the Global Events
WEE in 2016
WEE was invited by UNWomen for an exclusive stakeholder feedback roundtable discussion on the global policy for
“Stakeholder Consultation on gender Responsive Procurement”.
We are thankful to Dr. Rebecca Reichmann, UNWomen, Representative India and Multi Country for giving us this
opportunity.
WEE intends to ignite a fire amongst young college going students particularly women to take entrepreneurship as a
viable career option.
WEE partnered with Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University for their Entrepreneurship Development Initiative. We
are thankful to Dr Broto Bhardwaj; Head, Entrepreneurship cell at Bharati Vidyapeeth and WEE Core team member
for leading the initiative.
WEE was invited by DEITY, Government of India to express Women entrepreneurs view in Digital India. Dr Sarandeep
Singh talking about Women entrepreneurs view at Digital India.
6. WEE in 2016
WEE Consumption theme Conclave at IIT Delhi
WEE Road Show at IIT Delhi Hockey Ground
We are thankful to our stakeholders:
Mr Arun Duggal, Chairman, ICRA
Mr Navyug Mohnot, CEO, QAI
Mr Sandeep Aggarwal, Founder, Shopclues
Mr Vishal Tulsyan, CEO & MD, Motilal Oswal PE Advisors;
Mr Karan Mohla, Partner & ED, IDG Ventures
Mr Hitesh Sachdev, Principal, ICICI Bank - Emerging India Fund
Mr Shailesh Vickram Singh, Executive Director, Seedfund
Ms Rashmi Bajaj, Founder, Lymonds Mirus Capital Advisors
Mr Raghunandan G, CEO& Founder, TaxiForSure
Rakesh Misri, coFounder, Jovees Herbal Care
Mr Deep Singh, Business Head, North, Ola
Mr Sagar Daryani: Co founder, Wow Momos
Mr Madhur Arora, IIT Alumnus, WEE Core Team Member
7. WEE in 2016
WEE Start Ups and Mentorship Program
The WEE program was launched at IIT Delhi on 1st Oct’16 for chosen 40 women entrepreneurs. These women were
chosen after intensive evaluation from 2000+ applicants across the country. The ladies were chosen to build inclusive
and sustainable eco system.
WEE women entrepreneurs are in the age group of 18 to 57. Some are complete strangers to the startup arena, others
are running their enterprises; while the trajectories of these women are different, and they all have a common goal-to
master the vocabulary of entrepreneurship. The spectrum of the business being mentored entails: organic farming, bee
hiving to tissue reproduction, and online marketing to baking.
WEE Mentorship Classes are conducted during the weekend at IIT Delhi with the global industry experts.
Dr A. Sivathanu Pillai, CEO and MD, BrahMos,
Padma Bhushan, Founder of the Brahmos
Missile
Program, mentoring women entrepreneurs.
Ms Sairee Chahal, Founder Sheroes. Sheroes is
our Partner. We are thankful to Sairee for
being WEE Mentor and partner.
8. Mr. Rajesh Sawhney, Co-Founder at InnerChef & Founder of GSF
Accelerator, mentoring women entrepreneurs at WEE
Mr Pradeep Gupta, Chairperson, Cyber media, mentoring women entrereneurs on
Investment strategy during WEE Mentorship Programme.
Glimpses of WEE Events and Mentorship Programme.
Left to Right:
Dr Anil Wali,MD FITT,Prof P.V.M Rao,
Mechanical Department, IIT Delhi, Mr
Yogesh Andlay, ex co-Founder,
Nucleus Software and Polaris, Ms
Deepa Malik, Prof V. Ram Gopal Rao,
Dr Sarandeep Singh, Ms Aparna
Saroagi, Dr Sandeep Chatterjee,
Registrar IIT Delhi brainstorming on
WEE Mentorship Program.
WEE in 2016
Ms. Virginia Sharma, Director Linkedin Marketing
Solutions sharing business networking secrets with
WEE Women entrepreneurs
9. With Honourable Minister of State: Dr.
Jitendra Singh; Ms Saroagi expressing her
views on strengthening entrepreneurship
system in the country
With Sachin Bansal (Chairperson Flipkart);
Ms Saroagi discussing how we motivate
youngsters to think innovation
WEE in 2016
Special thanks to Mr. Navyug Mohnot, founder
and CEO QAI for his valuable guidance and
advise.
Mr. Sandeep Aggarwal, founder
Shopclues, promised to provide support to
WEE Women Entrepreneur: Elsa: Co-
founder: SafeCity
10. WEE in 2016
WEE Graduation Day to be celebrated in Mar’17. Department of Science and Technology,(DST) Government of India has
agreed to grant INR 5Lac TO 5 WEE Women entrepreneurs to strengthen their business ideas. These women entrepreneurs
would be chosen by a very high level panel consisting of senior representatives from IIT Delhi and DST. We are thankful to
Mr Ashutosh Sharma, Mr Harkesh Mittal , Dr Anita Gupta and Mr Rajiv Sharma from DST, Government of India for their
valuable support and guidance for WEE Mentorship Program.
Mr. Sunil Malhotra, Founder IdeaFarms and Mr Salil Agarwal, WEE Program Director, mentoring women
entrepreneurs on Design Thinking.
WEE at Linkedin office.
11. WEE in 2016
Dr Nupur Prakash, Vice Chancellor, Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical
University for Women speaking about how she is promoting
Women Entrepreneurship in her University at WEE Event.
Ms Tanya Spisbah ,First Secretary, Economic, Australian High
Commission, New Delhi expressing her support for Women
Empowerment at the WEE Event.
We are thankful to Ms Shraddha Sharma, Founder Yourstory
for her valuable guidance and support for Women
Empowerment.
Ms Aparna Saroagi and Ms Shradha Sharma exchanging and
brainstorming their thoughts.
Mr Jappreet Sethi, Co-founder Yo startups supporting the
cause of entrepreneurship among women
12. WEE in 2016
A big thank you to Ms. Geeta Kathpalia, Senior Director, Ministry of Communication &
Information Technology for being a strong support
Ms. Geetika Goyal, Executive Director, TIE at WEE Event.
Dr. Anita Tripathy Lal, Prof., Fore School of Management, making sure her words get
spread and make a difference
Dr Anita Gupta, Department of Science, Government of India updating women
entrepreneurs about Government support to strengthen Women Eco system at WEE
Event
We thank Mr. Rakesh Mishra, Cofounder Excubator, for being an active support in cause
of women entrepreneurship
Mr. Vishal Chadha, IIT IIM alumnus and a global business leader, mentoring women on driving
global business changes at WEE foundation
Mr. Aditya Awasthee, angel investor and mentor to start-ups has been a active support.
We thank him profoundly
13. WEE in 2016
Please visit our website weefoundation.org for more details or write to us sarandeep@weefoundation.org;
aparna@weefoundation.org
WEE Plans in 2017
WEE International: WEE programmes would be launched in Thailand and Hong Kong in Jan’17. WEE
has signed MOU with Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok . WEE is in discussion with CII and Tie to
empower Women through the mentorship program and WEE events.
WEE Fund: Research suggests that it is difficult for women to get their ventures funded. WEE intends to
create fund exclusively for women led enterprises. WEE has started discussions with leading global
hedge funds and VCs. Couple of leading ecommerce retailers have shown key interests in investing in
these women owned businesses.
WEE Rural: India lives in Rural India. WEE intends to boost self help groups where women help women
through in rural India. WEE is working on projects like bee hiving, organic farming, affordable sanitary
napkins and handicrafts to empower rural women.
WEE Vlog: At WEE; we believe; every lady has a potential and a talent to display. WEE intends to create
worlds’ first video channel exclusively for women where women would SHOWCASE business ideas and
skill sets.
WEE vision is to touch and financially empower one billion women globally.
14. WEE in 2016
WEE Media Coverage
Forbes India:
http://www.forbesindia.com/article/special/iit-delhi-starts-initiative-to-promote-women-entrepreneurship/44073/1
The Times of India:
http://retail.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/industry/think-big-iit-to-mentor-45-bizwomen/54506598
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/Think-big-IIT-to-mentor-45-bizwomen/articleshow/54502476.cms
The Economic Times:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/startups/how-iit-delhi-is-going-about-creating-an-ecosystem-for-
women-entrepreneurs/articleshow/55641099.cms
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/iit-delhi-launches-wee-to-strengthen-the-women-
ecosystem/articleshow/53725517.cms?from=mdr
The Hindustan Times:
http://www.hindustantimes.com/delhi/iit-delhi-to-mentor-train-30-women-entrepreneurs/story-
JpooONSppuOgz6zriIGEcN.html
Business Insider:
http://www.businessinsider.in/IITDelhi-will-mentor-women-entrepreneurs-for-three-
months/articleshow/54508789.cms
Nikkei Asian Review:
http://asia.nikkei.com/Business/Trends/Indian-startups-open-a-world-of-opportunities-to-women
The Tribune:
http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/delhi/iit-delhi-starts-initiative-for-women-entrepreneurship-
programme/281260.html
Yourstory:
https://yourstory.com/2016/08/aparna-saraogi-sarandeep-singh-wee-foundation/
She the people:
http://shethepeople.tv/iit-delhi-to-start-mentorship-programme-for-aspiring-women-entrepreneurs/
