Swarrnim Sensational Entreprenaari 4.0 Bursts Pride in Gandhinagar
Swarrnim Startup & Innovation University’s Entreprenaari 4.0 Spotlights Women-Led Startups, Draws 200+ Participants.
Swarrnim’s Entreprenaari 4.0 Unleashes Power, Passion Ignites Women Startups
Gandhinagar, 25 March, 2026: Swarrnim Startup & Innovation University recently hosted the fourth edition of Entreprenaari, the flagship initiative of its Swarrnim Incubation Centre (SIC), at its sprawling campus in Bhoyan Rathod, near Gandhinagar. This vibrant event drew over 200 people, including eager founders, students, and key players from the startup world. Centred on the theme ‘Breaking Barriers: Building Businesses’, it gathered women entrepreneurs, industry leaders, investors, and aspiring founders to spark innovation, collaboration, and growth in the startup scene.
Past editions, like Entreprenaari 2.0 back in 2022, also saw big crowds with nearly 90 women showcasing handmade jewellery, clothes, herbal cosmetics, and tasty food items at stalls. Gujarat has seen a sharp rise in women-led startups, up 168 per cent from 2020 to 2022, outpacing the national average, thanks to special programmes from incubators like Swarrnim. The university’s campus, known for blending education with real-world startup culture, has long supported such events to turn ideas into thriving businesses.
Also Read:
Swarrnim Mega Job Fair 2026 Sparks Big Career Hope
Swarrnim Bosch MoU Creates Exciting Future for Engineers
Entreprenaari is SIC’s flagship initiative under the wing of Women Entrepreneurship Development Cell, led by Mrs Nikita Adi Jain, aimed at encouraging, supporting, and promoting women entrepreneurs by providing a platform to connect with angel investors, industry mentors, and government stakeholders. Mrs Jain, who serves as Managing Director Global at the university, has steered the cell since earlier events, focusing on real support like networking and skill-building. Groups like FICCI FLO Ahmedabad, with its 8000-plus women professionals across India, often back such platforms to empower ladies in business.
The fourth edition saw participation from at least 200 attendees, including founders, students, and ecosystem stakeholders. Social media buzz on Instagram and LinkedIn showed live updates from the event, with posts praising the energy and connections made. Women in Gujarat now run more businesses after getting help from schemes that offer training and loans, turning employees into owners.
A key highlight was the presentation of 18 startup pitches under the Student Startup and Innovation Policy (SSIP), evaluated by an expert panel on parameters such as innovation, scalability, and market potential. SSIP, run by the Gujarat government, gives up to 10 lakh rupees to student-led ideas with prototypes ready for the market. The final SSIP selections are expected to be announced in April, subject to approval from the concerned authorities. Juries like Bharat Thakkar from the Foundation of Entrepreneurs and Honey Vyas from the Swachh Bharat Mission helped judge, bringing sharp eyes to spot winners.
“Entreprenaari, the flagship initiative of Swarrnim Incubation Centre, seeks to encourage and support women entrepreneurs by enabling access to investors, mentors, and key ecosystem stakeholders. Through this platform, we aim to break structural barriers and create meaningful opportunities for women-led ventures to scale and succeed,” said Shri Adi Rishabh Jain, vice president, Swarrnim Startup & Innovation University. Mr Jain leads operations at the university, pushing innovative teaching tied to startups. His words echo the drive seen in earlier posts where the centre turns raw ideas into solid plans with hands-on guidance.
In addition, some 30 curated exhibition stalls showcased products and services from women-led startups, enabling direct engagement with customers and stakeholders. Stalls let visitors chat face-to-face, much like in past years where items flew off the tables. The event also recognised emerging ventures, with three startups honoured under the Fempreneurs category, while three startups were selected by Thore Network for financial support of Rs 1 lakh each, set to be disbursed in tranches in April following final screening. Thore Network, a title sponsor active in AI and blockchain challenges, steps up for women founders here.
The programme was graced by eminent dignitaries and ecosystem leaders, including Smt Kaajal Oza Vaidya, renowned author; Smt Nikita Adi Jain, MD, SSIU; Smt Jhalak Shah, AGM, SIDBI; Dr Binita Verdia, GM-CSR, Zydus Group; Shri Umesh Sharma, Assistant Director, MSME; Smt Avani Pawar, BD, Thore Network; Shri Ravi Prajapati, Manager, GOPCA; Smt Madhu Banthia, President, FICCI FLO, Ahmedabad; Smt Piyalee Chattopadhay, Startup Head, FLO; and Ms Rikita Bajaj, Member, FLO, whose insights and presence added significant value to the initiative. Also, the juries from the Foundation of Entrepreneurs Mr Bharat Thakkar & Mr Ajaysinh Barad and Ms Honey Vyas from the Swachh Bharat Mission contributed to the evaluation of the startups. Another partner, Mr Vishal Parmar, Founder of Vyapar Jagat, also joined for the screening. Kaajal Oza Vaidya, famous for honest stories like her novel Yog-Viyog, shared wisdom on grit. Jhalak Shah from SIDBI aids women via platforms like Saksham, offering free courses on money matters. Zydus CSR focuses on health and growth, while Vyapar Jagat spotlights new business tales.
Entreprenaari 4.0 also served as a dynamic networking platform, enabling meaningful interactions between startups, investors, mentors, and ecosystem partners. Posts reflected how leadership met purpose, with real chats leading to big breaks. The event was supported by Thore Network as the Title Sponsor, along with ecosystem partners including SIDBI, Fempreneurs – Vyapar Jagat, Zydus Healthcare CSR, MSME DFO, IIC, SSIP, WEDC, WDC, IQAC, Cognoscent Group, FICCI FLO, GOPCA, and BGT Infosolutions. SIDBI and FICCI FLO often team up for events like investor meets in GIFT City, focused on women startups.
The initiative helped strengthen the women-led startup ecosystem by enhancing visibility for early-stage ventures and facilitating potential funding opportunities. With Gujarat pushing schemes like WE-LEAD to aid thousands of women, events like this pave the way for more success stories. Swarrnim’s role keeps growing, making it a go-to spot for bold women builders.