Govt partners with FICCI FLO to strengthen women entrepreneurship

Bengaluru: The Karnataka government, through the Karnataka Innovation and Technology Society, on Monday signed an MoU with FICCI FLO Bengaluru and the FLO Bengaluru Industrial Park Association to strengthen support for women entrepreneurs across startups and manufacturing.

The partnership aims to create greater opportunities for women entrepreneurs by enhancing access to government programmes, mentorship, funding, industry connect and manufacturing infrastructure, officials said.

FICCI FLO Bengaluru is the women’s wing of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry.

According to officials, the MoU signed by the Department of Electronics, IT, Biotechnology and Science & Technology, would strengthen support for women entrepreneurs across startups, technology and manufacturing and also facilitate greater participation of women-led startups in flagship Government programmes, including ELEVATE, while enabling access to mentoring, market access initiatives, patent reimbursement and capacity-building programmes.

In a statement, the department said it would also leverage FICCI FLO’s extensive entrepreneurial and industry network to provide mentoring, networking and business growth opportunities for women entrepreneurs and support women-led manufacturing enterprises through the FLO Bengaluru Industrial Park by facilitating access to industrial infrastructure, statutory approvals and government schemes. The partnership would also foster stronger collaboration between the government and industry to build a more enabling ecosystem for women-led enterprises. 

“Together, the two organisations will work to expand access to mentorship, market linkages, government programmes, industry connect and manufacturing opportunities, enabling more women entrepreneurs to innovate, scale and build globally competitive enterprises from Karnataka,” it said.

Manjula, Secretary, Department of Electronics, IT, Biotechnology and Science & Technology, said the Department has consistently worked towards creating an enabling environment for women entrepreneurs through focused programmes, funding support and strategic partnerships.

“This collaboration with FICCI FLO will further strengthen that ecosystem by con necting women founders with mentorship, industry expertise, market opportunities and manufacturing infrastructure, helping them build globally competitive enterprises from Karnataka,” she added.