PIEDS Womenpreneur for Bharat 4.0
Offered By - Pilani Innovation & Entrepreneurship Development Society
About the Program
PIEDS Womenpreneur for Bharat 4.0 is designed for women-led startups from India’s Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities that are building impact-driven solutions aligned with key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The program specifically targets startups where women founders hold a majority stake and are developing scalable ventures in sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, education, financial inclusion, women welfare, digital commerce, and climate action.
The initiative is a flagship program of the Pilani Innovation & Entrepreneurship Development Society (PIEDS) at BITS Pilani in association with Aditya Birla Capital Foundation. It aims to strengthen entrepreneurship among women founders by addressing funding and support gaps commonly faced by startups emerging from non-metro regions of India.
The program combines financial support with incubation and mentorship resources to help startups validate, refine, and scale their solutions. Selected ventures gain access to expert guidance, ecosystem connections, and support for building sustainable businesses with measurable impact.
A core focus of Womenpreneur for Bharat 4.0 is enabling women entrepreneurs from Bharat’s emerging startup ecosystems to transform early-stage innovations into viable businesses while contributing to social and economic development.
From a founder’s perspective, this opportunity is most relevant for women-led startups outside major metro ecosystems that need both funding and incubation support. Founders who already have a proof-of-concept or prototype and can demonstrate alignment with impact-oriented sectors are likely to find the program particularly valuable.
Key Offerings
Funding
Mentorship
Who Can Apply / Eligibility
- Applicant must be from a Tier-2 or Tier-3 city of India.
- Women entrepreneurs must hold more than 51% equity in the company.
- Startup must be at least at the idea stage and have a proof-of-concept (PoC) or prototype.
- Startup must not have received more than ₹20 lakh in grants or seed funding.
- Annual revenue must not exceed ₹1 crore.
- Must be a for-profit Private Limited Company or agree to incorporate as one if selected.
- Must qualify under the DPIIT Startup Definition and possess DPIIT certification.
- Must not have previously received funding from PIEDS.
- Must align with one or more of SDG Goals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, or 13.
Best suited for women-led impact startups from Tier-2 and Tier-3 India that are progressing from idea or prototype stage toward commercialization.
Selection Process
- Online application submission.
- Initial application screening for eligibility, founder profile, company stage, revenue limits, and DPIIT certification.
- Evaluation by the selection committee based on innovation, market potential, SDG alignment, and scalability.
- Evaluation and shortlisting of promising startups.
- Pitch presentation and/or interview round for shortlisted startups.
- Final cohort selection.
- Onboarding into the incubation program with funding and mentorship support.
How to Apply
- Prepare the application with startup and founder information and required supporting documents.
- Submit the application through the official application portal before the deadline.
- Verify all information before final submission.
- Follow up 5–7 days after submission to confirm receipt and understand review timelines.
Source & Verification
All information is compiled from publicly available sources. Refer to the links below for most accurate & updated details. Disclaimer
- Source 1: pieds.accubate.app
This information is provided for general awareness and does not constitute an endorsement by StartupGrantsHub.com. Exercise due diligence before submitting any personal or sensitive information.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Applicant must be from a Tier-2 or Tier-3 city of India.
- Women entrepreneurs must hold more than 51% equity in the company.
- Startup must be at least at the idea stage and have a proof-of-concept (PoC) or prototype.
- Startup must not have received more than ₹20 lakh in grants or seed funding.
- Annual revenue must not exceed ₹1 crore.
- Must be a for-profit Private Limited Company or agree to incorporate as one if selected.
- Must qualify under the DPIIT Startup Definition and possess DPIIT certification.
- Must not have previously received funding from PIEDS.
- Must align with one or more of SDG Goals 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8, or 13.
Best suited for women-led impact startups from Tier-2 and Tier-3 India that are progressing from idea or prototype stage toward commercialization.