Goa Sashakti EntrepreNaari Initiative Empowers 60 Women Entrepreneurs

~ Participants to receive expert-led training and mentoring to scale women-led food businesses in Goa, as part of the Goa Sashakti EntrepreNaari initiative.

~ The programme’s virtual sessions to focus on branding, digital outreach, and market access.

Panaji, October 2025 — SBI Foundation, in collaboration with SEED (Society for Education, Environment and Development), has initiated the Goa Sashakti EntrepreNaari initiative, which has now officially commenced training for a dedicated cohort of 60 women entrepreneurs.

With subject expertise from Aspire For Her—a social enterprise committed to adding one million women to the workforce by 2025—the programme marks a significant milestone in its mission to strengthen and scale women-led food businesses across Goa. Together, the partners aim to build a thriving ecosystem of inclusion, opportunity, and empowerment for women entrepreneurs in the state.

The newly launched cohort brings together aspirational ‘EntrepreNaaris’ from across North Goa and South Goa districts, many of whom are seasoned home chefs, catering service providers and food processors. While these women have established roots in their communities, the initiative is now enabling them to strengthen branding, expand digital outreach and scale their enterprises to a new level.

Over the next phase, the 60 participants will benefit from expert-led online workshops, one-on-one virtual mentoring and structured networking opportunities. These interventions are aimed at helping women navigate challenges around business growth, digital visibility and access to markets, while also connecting them to peers and mentors from across India.

“This initiative is not just about enterprise development — it’s about unlocking potential, fostering self-belief, and enabling long-term resilience among women who are often the silent drivers of local economies. Through EntrepreNaari, we are equipping women with the tools, mentorship and networks needed to move from the margins to the mainstream — as business leaders, decision-makers, and changemakers in their communities. At SBI Foundation, we are proud to champion this transformation and stand alongside these inspiring women as they take bold strides toward economic empowerment and inclusive growth.” said Sanjay Prakash, MD and CEO, SBI Foundation.

“The launch of this cohort is another step in building a supportive ecosystem for women-led businesses in Goa. It is about creating pathways for women to scale their potential, access resources and strengthen their presence in the market,” said Romira Roy, co-founder of SEED.

The EntrepreNaari initiative, which began earlier this year, has already shortlisted 122 women entrepreneurs from across Goa, selected from over 200 entries. The launch of this dedicated cohort now sets the stage for targeted mentoring and business-building opportunities that will culminate in a final pitch fest and graduation ceremony in January 2026.