Accenture rolls out ‘Women Founders Program’ in India

Accenture has launched the ‘Women Founders Program’ in India to assist early-stage women-led Indian startups in the B2B deep tech and enterprise SaaS domain expand their businesses. Under this programme, the information technology services and consulting major will provide selected technology startups in India with an equity-free grant of up to $60,000, along with market and network access and mentoring.    

Accenture stated that the registrations for this programme are currently open to early-stage B2B technology businesses that have at least a single woman founder and are focused on advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, internet of things, cloud, blockchain, Web 3.0, metaverse, big data and analytics, and extended reality.  

Accenture maintains that the registrations are open to qualified applicants as of February 23.  

“The technology industry needs active participation of women as technologists and entrepreneurs to strengthen its innovation abilities and drive market relevant solutions using deep tech,” said Mahesh Zurale, senior managing director, lead – Advanced Technology Centers in India, Accenture.  

Accenture has also clarified that startups applying for the programme must be based out of India and have a working prototype with early adoption metrics. Furthermore, applicants will be shortlisted and selected by leaders from Accenture and the ecosystem based on product differentiation, disrupt-ability quotient, leveraging of deep technologies, commercial viability and founder profile.  

“Accenture is committed to supporting women in technology and helping female entrepreneurs grow their businesses, and the Women Founders Program in India is one of many initiatives underway to contribute to these efforts,” Zurale further added.