New Delhi: Goldman Sachs’ global initiative, 10,000 Women, has expanded its presence in India by bringing in Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad and Indian Institute of Management Lucknow Enterprise Incubation Centre as new academic partners. Together with the existing partner, IIM Bangalore’s NSRCEL, the programme will now reach a wider pool of women entrepreneurs with business education, mentoring, and access to capital.
As part of this expansion, Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women plans to graduate 1,000 women entrepreneurs in India over the next year and scale its current base of 3,800 participants to 10,000 by 2033.
Sonjoy Chatterjee, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Goldman Sachs in India, said, "We are doubling our commitment to women entrepreneurs in India. Widening our partnership with India's premier business schools will drive a powerful combination of education, mentorship, and networks for these entrepreneurs. They will become pillars of India's growth."
The initiative aligns with India’s vision of Viksit Bharat 2047 by aiming to unlock the untapped potential of women-led businesses.
Professor Bharat Bhasker, Director of IIM Ahmedabad, said, "This collaboration with Goldman Sachs helps address the critical structural barriers that women entrepreneurs face, particularly in accessing capital and professional networks. By combining our academic expertise with the global reach of the initiative, we can further strengthen an ecosystem of women entrepreneurs, fostering innovation, driving growth, and empowering women to scale their businesses and become leaders in the Indian economy. Together, we aim to shape a future where women thrive as key contributors to the economy."
Goldman Sachs’ "India Womenomics" research notes that India’s favourable demographics offer long-term opportunities, but the country must expand employment opportunities for women and raise their participation in the workforce to match global benchmarks.
Professor MP Gupta, Director of IIM Lucknow, said, "Promoting female entrepreneurship in India is not just about breaking down barriers but creating a ripple effect that inspires entrepreneurs for generations to come, bolstering the impact and contribution women can have to the economy while driving positive change in society. The association between IIM Lucknow Enterprise Incubation Centre and Goldman Sachs is committed to boosting women entrepreneurship through this uniquely targeted initiative. The initiative will contribute to dismantling barriers and establishing a supportive ecosystem where women-led ventures can flourish, scale and inspire."
The programme has already had a measurable impact in India. Participants, on average, quadruple their revenues and double their workforce soon after completion. Collectively, graduates have created over 12,000 jobs and generated billions of rupees in revenue. Most also adapt their businesses to external disruptions and nine out of ten mentor other women entrepreneurs, extending the programme’s impact beyond their own ventures.
BI Bureau
