In this initiative IIM Calcutta Innovation Park (IIMCIP), a Section 8 company, partnered WBSRLM to conduct the programme in the state. The mentoring of SHG led enterprises for one year and developing replicable models which in coming years will act as model concepts/ strategies for entrepreneurship development in rural Bengal is an integral component of this initiative.

Under the programme, out of 30,000 online applications received from SHG entrepreneurs, 150 applications were sieved through rigorous stages of filtering under the Challenge Fund Competition. These 150 enterprises were provided with grant (for 18 enterprises) and interest free soft loan (132 enterprises) up to Rs. 10.00 lakh.

Apart from financial support, the enterprises have been provided multipronged technical support by IIMCIP in close coordination with WBSRLM. This support included:

1. Training the SHG entrepreneurs to pitch their businesses before the audience which in-turn a confidence development exercise
2. Mapping experienced mentors with the selected 150 enterprises for providing business technicality support in uninterrupted manner
3. Detailed Diagnostic Study of financial, infrastructural and other technical requirements for each enterprise has been done
4. Training on business basics, legal compliances requirements etc. imparted
5. Bankable business plan for each enterprise has been prepared along with business growth strategy finalization.
6. 64 hrs domain training & 64 hrs Enterprise Development Training (EDP) imparted. Training partners included organizations like Dastkar, Taneira, Jadavpur University, Institute of Hotel Management, QCI, Hettich Poddar Wood Working Institute etc.
7. Tie-ups with Partnering agencies like Yespoho, Craftlipi etc. were done for product quality and market presence enhancement
8. Market linkages in the form of Ecommerce Onboarding - B2C & B2B, institutional buyer & wholesaler, fair and exhibition, buyers & sellers meets were done for enhancement of sales of the products of incubated enterprise.

1. 99 enterprises (70%) could increase their Annual Revenue by more than 15%
2. 36 enterprises (25%) could double their Annual Revenue
3. Total Annual Revenue of all the enterprises under the Manufacturing and Service Sectors increased by 29.78% and 43.64% respectively
4. 16 enterprises joined the 1 Cr + league of enterprises – a jump of 61%
5. Highest revenue growth by any enterprise among the 150 enterprises was 247%

Employment:

1. Increment of 1471 direct and indirect employment (19%)

Future Hope:

1. The incubated enterprises should be treated as model sites for the exposure for other enterprises of the district.
2. Not only these 150 enterprises, but planning should be done for establishment of an integral system in SRLM for incubation of potential enterprises.
3. As enterprise promotion and ensuring livelihoods of SHG members is the primary objective of future activities of WBSRLM, the Sangha Cooperatives may be developed as mini business hubs for handling multiple businesses simultaneously and supporting SHG members under them with technical assistance like business plan preparation, bankable proposal preparation, legal compliance requirements, backward-forward linkages guidance etc.