Deadline: March 16, 2018
Apply to receive training, mentoring, and support, including travel to the US in the Aspiring Women Entrepreneurs Program 2018. The US Department of State has engaged The University of Texas at Austin to provide entrepreneurship training, mentoring, and support for female students currently enrolled at Indian universities.
Students may apply for admission to the program, noting an idea that they would like to explore in terms of commercialization. Ideas may be based on scientific or technological research undertaken at university, innovation created by the student independently, or innovation of others that students believe they could support.
Program Structure
The program will provide three integrated experiences to help students understand the potential of their specific business ideas and the challenges of moving forward:
- Following an orientation session, students selected for the program will take a six-week (April 3 to May 11) online course called “Innovation Readiness.” The course will require approximately four hours of time per week, including time viewing online modules, completing assignments, and engaging in conversations with a mentor. Students will be mentored via distance and will have a weekly skype call with their mentors. Taking the online course should be compatible with completing ongoing university coursework, as the course can be accessed from any location at any time.
- Following completion of the online course, students will meet for an intense weekend workshop at the Nexus Startup Hub at the American Center New Delhi. (For participants residing outside of Delhi, transportation to and lodging in New Delhi will be provided.) At this time, students may choose to collaborate on promising enterprise ideas or continue to work independently. The workshop will emphasize practical next steps and analysis of potential market opportunities and challenges. Instructors from The University of Texas at Austin as well as mentors from the Delhi community and experienced female entrepreneurs will work closely with participants.
- In June, students will join, for two weeks, a program in Austin, Texas (Jun 19-29, with air travel beginning the evening of Jun 17 and return to India by Jun 31). Working in collaborative teams with University of Texas students, Indian and American students will explore commercial opportunities for the group’s Indian innovations in both India and the US, as well as other markets. American students may continue to advise Indian students on opportunities later in the summer. Travel expenses will be covered by the program.
Following successful completion of these three steps, participants will be expected to (a) stay in touch with their American counterparts during the month of July for updates on opportunities and (b) present their findings to a group of entrepreneurs and mentors at the Nexus Startup Hub (in person or via video/Skype) and to report periodically to Nexus managers on progress related to their innovations or their career development.
Eligibility
- Open to female student currently enrolled at an Indian university;
- Graduate or undergraduate status;
- They should be able to obtain US visa and travel to the US;
- Have the ability to describe a specific idea for commercialization;
- Ideas may be based on
- university / student research or
- other innovation that the student has the ability to support
Judging Criteria
Applications will be judged on student motivation, student readiness to take an idea to market, and viability of the potential business.
Timeline for application/Selection process:
- February-March: Opportunities to attend meetings about the program
- March 16: Deadline to submit completed application forms (via email)
- March 23: Notification to women accepted or wait-listed for the program
- March 29: Information session at Nexus for those accepted or wait-listed (also webcast) and their parents
- April 2: Commitment letters due
Application
You may complete the Aspiring Women Entrepreneurs application form in either of two ways: By using MS Word and typing directly on the form, removing blank lines as appropriate, or By printing the PDF and legibly writing on the printout.
Email your completed MS Word version or a scan of your PDF to [email protected].
For more information, visit Aspiring Women Entrepreneurs Program.
