“We Rise – Women Entrepreneurs Reimagining Inclusive and Sustainable Enterprises”
Background
Launched by: NITI Aayog’s Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) in collaboration with DP World
Date: 17 October 2025
Objective: Empower Indian women-led MSMEs by providing global market access, trade facilitation, mentorship, and partnerships.
Key Features
Feature | Details |
Initiative Name | We Rise – Women Entrepreneurs Reimagining Inclusive and Sustainable Enterprises |
Implementing Bodies | NITI Aayog’s Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) and DP World |
Under the Aegis of | WEP’s Award to Reward (ATR) initiative |
Aim | To help women entrepreneurs scale globally through trade facilitation and mentorship |
Target Group | High-potential women-led MSMEs across India |
Number of Women Entrepreneurs to be Mentored | 100 (to enhance export readiness) |
Global Exposure Opportunity | Showcase products at Bharat Mart, Dubai (within Jebel Ali Free Zone – Jafza) |
Platform Reach | Over 90,000 women entrepreneurs already engaged on WEP |
Public–Private Collaboration | WEP now functions as a public-private partnership (PPP) since 2022, with 47 partners |
Six Key Ecosystem Focus Areas | Access to finance, market linkages, training & skilling, mentoring & networking, compliance & legal assistance, and business development services |
ATR Initiative (2023) | Institutionalises WEP’s partnership framework; plug-and-play model for measurable collaborations |
Launched (WEP) | Incubated in NITI Aayog in 2018 |
Significance
Advances the Government’s vision of women-led development.
Aligns with G20 themes of inclusive growth and Viksit Bharat 2047.
Strengthens India’s women entrepreneurship ecosystem through trade-linked empowerment.
Leverages DP World’s logistics expertise to boost Indian exports by women entrepreneurs.
Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP)
Genesis & Background
Concept Origin: Proposed by Amitabh Kant, then CEO of NITI Aayog, at the 8th Global Entrepreneurship Summit (GES), Hyderabad (2017).
Launch: Officially incubated under NITI Aayog in 2018 as a unified access platform for women entrepreneurs across India.
Transformation: Transitioned into a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model in 2022 to strengthen collaboration with industry partners.
Core Objectives
To unify women entrepreneurs across sectors and regions on a single digital platform.
To address information asymmetry and offer end-to-end entrepreneurial support.
To promote women-led development, in line with India’s commitment to inclusive growth and SDG 5 (Gender Equality).
Key Pillars of WEP
Pillar | Focus Area |
Access to Finance | Financial inclusion and credit access for women-led ventures |
Market Linkages | Domestic and international trade opportunities |
Training & Skilling | Entrepreneurial and managerial capacity building |
Mentoring & Networking | Access to industry leaders and mentors |
Compliance & Legal Assistance | Legal literacy, business registration, and compliance |
Business Development Services | Expansion strategies and scalability support |
Public–Private Partnership (PPP) Model
Over 30 partners from the public and private sectors.
Encourages co-created, scalable programmes for women entrepreneurs.
In 2023, the Award to Reward (ATR) initiative was launched to institutionalise such collaborations through a plug-and-play framework.
EmpowHER Biz – Sapno Ki Udaan (2025)
Launched by:
NITI Aayog’s WEP in partnership with New Shop, India’s largest 24/7 convenience retail chain in jan 2025.
Launched under:
WEP’s Award to Reward (ATR) programme (2023 framework).
Objectives
To empower women entrepreneurs to enter and succeed in the organized retail sector.
To enhance entrepreneurial, financial, and managerial skills through structured mentorship and training.
To create a robust retail ecosystem supporting women-led growth.
Key Features
Parameter | Details |
Participants | 50 women aged 18–35 selected through an online process |
Geographical Coverage | Delhi NCR, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat |
Top Performers | Top 20 receive a 100% waiver on New Shop franchise fees |
Training Modules | Retail management, digital tools, financial literacy, business development |
Outcome Goal | Build women-led franchises and promote inclusive growth in organized retail |
Prelims Practice MCQ
Q. The “We Rise” initiative aims to empower women-led enterprises primarily through:
Trade facilitation
Mentorship
Global market access
Subsidised credit from SIDBI
Select the correct answer using the code below:
A) 1 and 2 only
B) 1, 2 and 3 only
C) 1, 3 and 4 only
D) 1, 2, 3 and 4
Answer: B
Explanation: The programme focuses on trade facilitation, mentorship, and enabling global market access- not financial credit from SIDBI.
It does not directly provide or facilitate subsidised credit from SIDBI (that function is handled under other financial inclusion schemes like Stand-Up India, Mudra Yojana, or through SIDBI’s own programs).
So while WEP as a platform supports access to finance in general, the “We Rise” initiative under WEP does not include direct credit facilitation especially not subsidised credit from SIDBI.
Question focuses on WeRise.
Q. Which of the following correctly describes the Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP)?
A) It is a scheme under the Ministry of MSME for funding women entrepreneurs.
B) It is a PPP initiative by NITI Aayog acting as a national aggregator for women-led enterprises.
C) It is a CSR initiative of DP World for female exporters.
D) It is a sub-component of the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana.
Answer: B
Q. Which of the following are among the six pillars of support under the Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP)?
Access to Finance
Market Linkages
Mentoring & Networking
Environmental Certification
Select the correct answer using the code below:
A) 1 and 2 only
B) 1, 2 and 3 only
C) 2 and 4 only
D) 1, 3 and 4 only
Answer: B