Women's Economic Empowerment

Sheroes WomenWill: Supporting women entrepreneurs across Maharashtra

Challenge

Women micro-entrepreneurs in Maharashtra faced significant barriers to business growth, including limited access to business education, lack of digital literacy, and insufficient support networks. Traditional training programs were often inaccessible due to time constraints, location barriers, and family responsibilities.

Solution

In partnership with Sheroes and Google's WomenWill initiative, we developed a comprehensive digital empowerment program specifically designed for women entrepreneurs. The program featured:

Mobile-first learning modules accessible via WhatsApp
Digital marketing and social media training
Financial planning and business management skills
Peer networking and mentorship opportunities
AI-powered business advisory and support

Implementation

The program was implemented across rural and urban areas of Maharashtra, with special focus on reaching women in underserved communities. We worked with local women's groups, self-help organizations, and community leaders to ensure cultural sensitivity and maximum reach.

Program Reach Across Maharashtra

Results

1,093

women entrepreneurs reached

73%

program completion rate

45%

average increase in monthly income

89%

reported increased confidence

Program recognized by Google as a model for women's digital empowerment

Testimonial

"Before joining the Sheroes WomenWill program, I was struggling to grow my tailoring business. The digital marketing training helped me reach customers online, and the financial planning modules taught me how to manage my business better. My income has doubled in six months!"

- Priya Sharma, Tailoring Business Owner & Program Graduate

Key Insights

Mobile-first approaches are essential for reaching women entrepreneurs in rural areas
Peer support networks significantly improve program engagement and outcomes
Cultural sensitivity and local partnerships are crucial for women's empowerment programs
Digital literacy training creates multiplier effects beyond immediate business benefits

Next Steps

Building on this success, we're expanding the women's empowerment program to three additional states, adding advanced modules on e-commerce and export opportunities, and developing a micro-credit facilitation component to support business growth.