An industry-first exchange program supported by the Australian and Indian governments aims to help 12 women entrepreneurs working in tech launch their businesses internationally.
Entries so far have included women entrepreneurs working in areas of drones, big data, blockchain, genetic engineering, low emission alternative fuels, and cybersecurity.
The CyberTech Women Entrepreneur program is part of the Australia-India Bilateral Cyber and Critical Technology Partnership (AICCTP) market access and business pathways program for women-led technology businesses in the two countries, supported by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs (DFAT) and the Government of Telangana, India.
In India alone, there are over 13.5 million women-owned small businesses, the largest in the world.
“For over a decade, start-ups, especially women entrepreneurs in tech, have expressed lack of opportunities and financial support to optimally scale-up their businesses globally,” said Deepthi Ravula, CEO of Indian female startup incubator, WEHub.
“What differentiates this start-up-scale-up exchange program is that we will not only be offering mentoring, but also supporting them with required financial grants to launch and accelerate their businesses.”
The program will host six women-led Indian start-ups and six women-led Australian start-ups and support their launch in the other nation. It will also provide soft-landing support for three months beyond the program in the respective markets.
According to Irfan Malik, CEO Sydney-based innovation facilitator inQ Innovation Global, the exchange program will enrich the start-up ecosystem for female entrepreneurs in cyberspace and critical technology across the two nations.
“We have been working together with DFAT since March to devise a program that offers an all-inclusive scale-up ecosystem crucial for women-led tech start-ups, to accelerate and maximise Australia-India partnerships,” he added.
Applications for the CyberTech Women Entrepreneur program close at the end of September. For more information, click here.
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