GAME - Global Alliance for Mass Entrepreneurship

Rekha Devi’s remarkable journey from homemaker to entrepreneur is a powerful example of the impact of collective action. Struggling with financial challenges and household responsibilities, Rekha took a step towards change by joining the Self-Help Group (SHG) under the National Rural Livelihood Mission (NRLM) in 2016. This initial step allowed her to save small amounts monthly, but it was the collective support under the Women Entrepreneur Financial Empowerment Program (WEFEP) by NRLM, GAME, and the local community that truly transformed her life. With guidance from GAME’s district coordinator, Mukesh Kumar, and the unwavering support of BDSP Didi, Rekha navigated the complex process of obtaining a loan, which enabled her to expand her beauty parlour. Through the Mudra scheme, Rekha received a Rs. 1,00,000 loan, allowing her to grow her business and improve her family’s financial situation. This success story highlights how collective action—through partnerships, mentorship, and support systems—can help women like Rekha turn their dreams into reality. WEFEP is designed to empower rural women entrepreneurs with financial linkages and is a testament to our shared commitment to uplifting the lives of women entrepreneurs. Through this collaboration, Rekha’s beauty parlour is not only a source of income but also a space where she empowers other women by offering them employment and training opportunities, helping her community thrive. National Rural Livelihoods Mission | Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY - NRLM) | Umed-Maharashtra State Rural Livelihoods Mission | RGAVP (Rajasthan Grameen Ajeevika Vikas Parishad) | Ravi Venkatesan | Madan Padaki | Mekin Maheshwari | Ketul Acharya | Archita Mal | Anmol Jain | IKEA Foundation #WEFEP #NRLM #SRLM #WomenEmpowerment #VittaSakhi #WomenEntrepreneurs #Entrepreneurship #FinancialInclusion #SHG #AccessToCredit #BusinessGrowth #EconomicDevelopment #GAMEChangingImpact #EmpowerHer #InclusiveGrowth #WomenInBusiness #CreditSupport #RuralEntrepreneurship #IndiaRising #BreakingBarriers #CommunityGrowth #MassEntrepreneurship

At the recent Women Entrepreneurship Market Access Collective (WEMAC) convening, inspiring stories of resilience and innovation by women entrepreneurs came to light, showcasing the critical need for gender-inclusive market solutions. Their stories of navigating challenges and pursuing their dreams are a testament to their strength and determination. Learn more about these incredible women entrepreneurs below. #WEMAC #WomenEntrepreneurs #MarketAccess #InclusiveGrowth #WEE #GAME Women Economic Empowerment Program | The Udaiti Foundation | Ladyfingers Co. | Morchan Karthick | Pooja Sharma Goyal | Kanika Singal | Rajasee Ray | Ravi Venkatesan | Madan Padaki | Mekin Maheshwari | Ketul Acharya | Poulomi Pal | Vanya Kaushik | Samikhsya Nanda | Poornima Menon | Lisa Keshariya

Empowering Women Entrepreneurs: A Deep Dive into financing the Women led enterprises through CMEGP Recently, GAME and Lemon Ideas, in collaboration with Vidarbha Industries Association - Lady Entrepreneurs Wing, hosted an impactful session on the CMEGP Credit Scheme at VIA Auditorium, Nagpur. This workshop aimed to bridge the gap between aspiring entrepreneurs and critical financial resources, offering a roadmap to navigate government-backed funding opportunities effectively. With Mr. Shivkumar Muddamwar, General Manager, District Industries Centre, Nagpur, as the Chief Guest, the session delved deep into the mechanics of the Chief Minister Employment Generation Programme (CMEGP) and GAME's important iniative of bringing in the action reserach pilot program to improve the effectiveness of the CMEGP scheme. The session also highlighted how CMEGP offers funding to existing and aspiring women-led entrepreneurs and they can receive the benefits of such a scheme. The event witnessed an enthusiastic response from a diverse audience leaving them inspired and ready to embark on their entrepreneurial journeys. A big thank you to the expert speakers at the session including, Deepak Menaria, Founder & CEO of Lemon Ideas; Rashmi Kulkarni, Chairperson of VIALEW, Yogita Deshmukh, Secretary - LEW, Dr Anita Rao, Project Director, Lt Cdr Yogesh Bhavsar (Retd.), VP - MSEM, GAME, among others. Lemon Ideas - An ecosystem ! | Vidarbha Industries Association | Deepak Menaria | Rashmi Kulkarni | Ravi Venkatesan | Madan Padaki | Mekin Maheshwari | Lt Cdr Yogesh Bhavsar (Retd.) | Ketul Acharya | Shailendra Jagtap #GAME #CMEGP #VIALEW #LemonIdeas #WomenEntrepreneurs #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness  

Tara Goswami’s story shows how women entrepreneurs can achieve great things when supported by their families, communities, and programs like the Women Entrepreneur Financial Empowerment Program (WEFEP). Tara, from Gunavad village in Madhya Pradesh, is a mother of six and has been tailoring for 15 years. Her husband runs a seasonal band instrument shop, but their income was often not sufficient to meet their needs. Everything changed in 2015 when Tara joined a Self-Help Group (SHG). Through the efforts of WEFEP, Tara obtained a INR 2,00,000 Mudra loan which helped her expand the business by starting a cutlery shop and running a mobile vehicle to sell items in nearby villages. Today, Tara and her husband earn INR 15,000– INR 20,000 per month. They’ve built their own home and created a better future for their family. Her hard work and determination, supported by WEFEP, have not only improved her family’s financial situation but also inspired others in her village. Tara’s story shows how the right support can turn dreams into reality. Let’s continue to empower women entrepreneurs and build a stronger, more inclusive future for all. DDU-GKY Madhya Pradesh Rajya Grameen Aajeevika Mission | Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana - National Rural Livelihoods Mission (DAY - NRLM) | Sourav Roy | Ravi Venkatesan | Mekin Maheshwari | Madan Padaki | Archita Mal | Anmol Jain | IKEA Foundation #WEFEP #NRLM #SRLM #WomenEmpowerment #VittaSakhi #WomenEntrepreneurs #Entrepreneurship #FinancialInclusion #SHG #AccessToCredit #BusinessGrowth #EconomicDevelopment #GAMEChangingImpact #EmpowerHer #InclusiveGrowth #WomenInBusiness #CreditSupport #RuralEntrepreneurship #IndiaRising #BreakingBarriers #CommunityGrowth #MassEntrepreneurship

At GAME, we cherish the power of alliances between corporates and grassroots initiatives to drive sustainable innovation, inclusive growth, and lasting impact. In line with this vision, our Women Economic Empowerment Program team was delighted to participate in the Amazon India Sustainability Summit in Delhi, where impactful conversations on empowering women entrepreneurs took center stage. Head to the WEE post to know the key highlights and inspiring stories shared during the summit. Together, we can empower women entrepreneurs to transform economies and communities. Amazon | YouthNet | Ravi Venkatesan | Madan Padaki | Mekin Maheshwari | Ketul Acharya | Poulomi Pal | Vanya Kaushik | Samikhsya Nanda | Poornima Menon | Lisa Keshariya #AmazonIndiaSustainabilitySummit #SustainabilitySummit #DigitalInnovation #WEE

GAME is thrilled to announce the signing of an MoU with the Society For Elimination Of Rural Poverty - India (SERP) and the Global Forum for Sustainable Transformation (GFST) as part of the Government of Andhra Pradesh’s visionary initiative, “One Family, One Entrepreneur.” This marks a significant milestone in our mission to empower entrepreneurs across the state of Andhra Pradesh and contribute to India’s economic growth. Under our State Entrepreneurship Mission, this collaboration is designed to: - Empower 1 lakh women entrepreneurs across Andhra Pradesh, aligning with the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s vision of creating a nation of “Lakhpati Didis,” where women entrepreneurs earn sustainable incomes and drive community transformation. - Foster Agri-Entrepreneurship, enabling women and youth to leverage innovative practices in agriculture and allied sectors.- Promote the adoption of renewable energy solutions, unlocking new opportunities in green livelihoods. - Support entrepreneurs with increased access to credit, markets, and resources, while nurturing aspirations to drive self-reliance and sustained growth. - Build a thriving, local entrepreneurial ecosystem that fuels economic activity and creates ripple effects across the state. This collaboration is set to transform the entrepreneurial landscape in Andhra Pradesh by: - Driving economic growth across the state by unlocking untapped entrepreneurial potential in rural and urban areas. - Transform local communities, fostering inclusive growth that benefits women, youth, and marginalized groups. - Contribute to the achievement of India’s SDG goals, including gender equality and decent work and economic growth Through innovative solutions, deep community engagement, and multi-stakeholder collaboration, this will help lay the foundation for Andhra Pradesh to become a hub of entrepreneurial energy. By fostering women’s entrepreneurship and promoting local enterprises, this will not only just build businesses—however build futures, driving self-reliance, and empowering communities. Together, we’re unlocking entrepreneurial potential and driving Andhra Pradesh toward a brighter, more inclusive, and sustainable future 🚀✨ Ravi Venkatesan | Madan Padaki | Mekin Maheshwari | Ketul Acharya | Nara Chandrababu Naidu | Veerapandian G | Government of Andhra Pradesh | Poulomi Pal | Shailendra Jagtap #Entrepreneurship #WomenEntrepreneurs #GAMEIndia #AndhraPradesh #OneFamilyOneEntrepreneur #Innovation #EconomicGrowth #StateEntrepreneurshipMission #MassEntrepreneurship #BusinessExcellence #GAMEChangingImpact #LocalBusiness #ThrivingEcosystems

🌟 Thrilled to Share Highlights from an Inspiring Session at TGS 2024! 🌟 Today, we had the privilege of hosting a session titled "Pushing the Boundaries: Growth & Women Entrepreneurship – The Journey from Access to Aspiration." The event opened with an inspiring keynote by Mekin Maheshwari, Co-founder of GAME and Founder of Udhyam Learning Foundation. Mekin highlighted the pivotal role of credit in entrepreneurship, emphasizing a critical gap: “In India, access to capital is still predominantly asset-based, while women’s asset ownership remains under 5%. For true evolution, lending needs to prioritize performance, repayment behaviour, and action.” He also stressed the “aspiration gap” that often limits women from dreaming big. Beyond access to capital and markets, fostering boldness and confidence is crucial for empowering women entrepreneurs. We then heard from Ketul Acharya, President of GAME, who shared valuable insights from our work with women entrepreneurs over the past year, underscoring the importance of collective efforts to drive scalable impact. 🎤Stories of Resilience and Success The session featured incredible journeys from women entrepreneurs, including: Shruti, Founder of NutriCastle Rural changemakers like Mrs. Rajamma (Koratagere, Tumkur), Mrs. Nagarathnamma (Bangalore South), Mrs. Parvathi, and Mrs. Ashwini (Devanahalli, Bangalore Rural) from Buzz Women 💡 Panel Discussions That Sparked Ideas Two engaging panels explored: 1️⃣ From Collective Strength to Market Success: Accessing Diverse and Emerging Markets - Leveraging Tech and Intent 2️⃣ Funding Futures: Overcoming Gendered Challenges in Access to Capital Eminent leaders shared actionable solutions and thought-provoking perspectives on these challenges, leaving us with much to reflect on and act upon. 🌟 Gratitude and Takeaways A heartfelt thank you to all our panellists and the women entrepreneurs who joined us. Your stories and contributions made this dialogue both engaging and deeply insightful. Let’s keep pushing boundaries and enabling growth! Women Economic Empowerment Program | Aarti Mohan | Aarti Nyayadhish | Suvarna Kamakshi | Rema Subramanian | jacintha jayachandran | Ankita Pegu | Divya Sampath | Pooja Sharma Goyal | Ramesh Dharmaji | Piya Bahadur | Uthara Narayanan | Lakshmi Pattabi Raman | Shruti Patil Mahagaonkar | Ravi Venkatesan | Madan Padaki | Mekin Maheshwari | Ketul Acharya | Poulomi Pal | Vanya Kaushik | Samikhsya Nanda | Poornima Menon | Lisa Keshariya #WomenEntrepreneurship #GrowthAndAspiration #TGS2024 #PushingBoundaries #EmpoweringWomen #AccessToCapital #EntrepreneurshipForAll #InspiringStories #WomenInBusiness #InnovationAndImpact #ResilienceAndSuccess #MarketStrategies #FundingFutures #GameForGrowth #BoldAndConfident #InclusiveEconomy #AspirationToAction

🌟Counting down to TiE Global Summit 24 - your gateway to transformative discussions on women's entrepreneurship! 🚀 Join us on December 9, 2024, at IISc Bangalore for a day of inspiration, learning, and networking as we explore the growth of women's entrepreneurship. GAME invites you to a day full of inspiring stories, meaningful conversations, and unparalleled networking opportunities. Here’s what’s in store: Panel Highlights: 1️⃣ From Collective Strength to Market Success: Unlocking access to emerging markets through technology and intent 2️⃣ Funding Futures: Tackling gendered barriers in access to capital 🎤 Showcase: Real Stories from Women Entrepreneurs – Celebrate the resilience and achievements of women turning dreams into thriving businesses! 📅 Date: Monday, December 9, 2024  📌Venue: First floor, Old SSCU (Solid State & Structural Chemistry), IISc, Bangalore  ✍ Secure Your Spot Today: https://lnkd.in/gXVGG-_e Let’s create a future where entrepreneurial success knows no gender bounds! #TGS2024 #WomenEntrepreneurship #AccessToMarket #AccessToCapital #EmpowerHer #Leadership #Innovation #WomenEntrepreneurs TiE Bangalore Ravi Venkatesan | Madan Padaki | Mekin Maheshwari | Ketul Acharya Aarti Mohan Aarti Nyayadhish | Suvarna Kamakshi | Rema Subramanian | Divya Sampath | Uthara Narayanan | Piya Bahadur | Lakshmi Pattabi Raman | Ramesh Dharmaji | Poulomi Pal | Vanya Kaushik | Poornima Menon | Samikhsya Nanda | Lisa Keshariya | Ankita Pegu

🌟 Highlights from WEMAC 2024: A Game-Changing Convening by GAME & The Udaiti Foundation 🌟 Yesterday, we witnessed the incredible power of collective action in driving change for women entrepreneurs. ⚡ Together with philanthropic partners, private market players, community organisations & women entrepreneurs from various backgrounds, there were collaborative discussions & knowledge exchange. Addressing barriers like access to finance, markets, & networks, we spoke about solutions that are transforming the entrepreneurial landscape for women in India. ✨ Here’s what stood out: 💡 WEMAC Compendium Case Studies Showcase: We unveiled case studies highlighting successful collectivisation models that have enabled market access & growth for women entrepreneurs. 💫 Celebrating Women’s Stories: Women entrepreneurs took the stage to share their personal journeys — navigating challenges, seizing opportunities, & achieving remarkable milestones. 🤝 Collaborative Discussions: The event fostered dynamic dialogue between philanthropic partners, private sector leaders, & community organisations, sparking ideas for actionable, scalable solutions. Our first panel was From Spare Change to Real Change. This discussion brought together philanthropic partners & private sector leaders who spoke about the need for patient capital to drive innovation to newer markets that would help women entrepreneurs. Our second panel, Winged Unmiraculous Women: Building Collective Strength – Motivations & Early Challenges, and our third panel, Still I Rise: Leadership Through Collectivizations, brought together women entrepreneurs from across India to share their inspiring journeys. These discussions delved into their motivations, early challenges, & how collectives have played a transformative role in shaping their personal & professional growth, enabling them to overcome barriers & build sustainable livelihoods. Each of them navigated unique hurdles, yet the shared experience of overcoming barriers as women fostered a deep sense of connection & solidarity. Together, we explored how collective efforts can unlock markets, foster innovation, & create a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem. Let’s continue to empower women entrepreneurs & scale their impact! 🌏 🚀 #WEMAC2024 #WomenEntrepreneurs #CollectiveAction #InclusiveGrowth #Innovation Women Economic Empowerment Program | The Udaiti Foundation | Aftertaste_India | Creyo | Bindi International | Karghewale | Kriti Social Initiatives | Mount Valley Development Association | Professional Assistance For Development Action (PRADAN) | SELCO Foundation | Saath Charitable Trust | Shakti Jhola | (Former) Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture | Tamul Plates Marketing Private Limited | URMUL DESERT CRAFTS | Ladyfingers Co. | Pooja Sharma Goyal | Morchan Karthick | Ravi Venkatesan | Madan Padaki | Mekin Maheshwari | Ketul Acharya | Poulomi Pal | Samikhsya Nanda | Poornima Menon | Lisa Keshariya | Vanya Kaushik

#live #update #WEMAC2024  #GAME #udaitievent "Women entrepreneurs face significant barriers—from the childcare burden and social norms to the lack of collateral and assets that prevent them from accessing finance. They often have to strive harder than men just to get equal opportunities. A bigger supporter of women's issues, even more so than the private sector, is the government. The most recent Union Budget was a gender responsive budget, with 6 percent set aside to solve challenges for women, which translates to 1 percent of India’s GDP. With more inclusive financial support from the government, we need to work towards bringing together the ecosystem players to strengthen market access”, said Saachi Bhalla, Deputy Director, Gender Equality at Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation at #WEMAC2024. In his keynote address, Ravi Venkatesan, Founder of GAME, discussed e-commerce platforms and businesses, highlighting insights from The Fortune at the Bottom of the Pyramid, a book by C.K. Prahalad that advises  ecommerce platforms to foster a two-way flow of trade, invest in building a collaborative ecosystem, and avoid operating in isolation. Women Economic Empowerment Program | The Udaiti Foundation | Aftertaste_India | Creyo | Bindi International | Karghewale | Kriti Social Initiatives | Mount Valley Development Association | Professional Assistance For Development Action (PRADAN) | SELCO Foundation | Saath Charitable Trust | Shakti Jhola | (Former) Syngenta Foundation for Sustainable Agriculture | Tamul Plates Marketing Private Limited | URMUL DESERT CRAFTS | Ladyfingers Co. | Pooja Sharma Goyal | Morchan Karthick | Ravi Venkatesan | Madan Padaki | Mekin Maheshwari | Ketul Acharya | Poulomi Pal | Samikhsya Nanda | Poornima Menon | Lisa Keshariya | Vanya Kaushik