Bengaluru, Karnataka, India | 23rdSeptember 2025: DLabs at the Indian School of Business (ISB), in partnership with the HCL Foundation, has officially launched DiscoverShe, a flagship initiative to empower 400 women micro-entrepreneurs from urban and peri-urban India. The program began with its inaugural two-day bootcamp in Bengaluru and aims to strengthen women-led MSMEs through digitisation, financial literacy, skill development, and mentorship support.
Driving Women’s Empowerment Through MSME Digitisation
DiscoverShe is designed to accelerate the growth of women entrepreneurs in India by offering:
- Hands-on training in digital storefront creation and e-commerce
- Financial and digital literacy workshops
- Access to microfinance and funding opportunities
- Guidance in skill development and project report preparation
- Three months of post-financing mentorship and handholding
This multi-pronged approach ensures women across diverse sectors—such as artisans, agriculture, services, and home-based businesses—gain the knowledge and tools needed to build scalable and sustainable ventures.
Leaders’ Vision: Building Resilience & Scale for Women Entrepreneurs
Saumya Kumar, CEO of DLabs and Director of ISB I-Venture, emphasized the socio-economic impact of the program:
“Micro-entrepreneurs play a vital role in industry growth and community transformation. Through DiscoverShe, we aim to empower women micro-entrepreneurs with world-class support to drive meaningful change.”
Dr. Nidhi Pundhir, Senior Vice President–Global CSR at HCL Foundation, added:
“Our collaboration with ISB DLabs is about unlocking potential, fostering resilience, and enabling women-led enterprises to thrive in today’s dynamic MSME ecosystem. Beyond training, we are ensuring continuous support through incubation, mentorship, and market access.”
DiscoverShe: 10 Bootcamps Across India
The DiscoverShe program will feature 10 bootcamps, detailed project report (DPR) support, incubation opportunities at DLabs, and a grand finale showcase. Key focus cities include Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Madurai, and Mohali, where women-led businesses will gain access to networks, resources, and structured growth opportunities.
This initiative represents a significant step towards women’s economic empowerment in India, reinforcing the role of micro-entrepreneurs in driving inclusive growth and innovation.
👉 Learn more about the DiscoverShe program here: https://i-venture.org/discovershe
