KOLKATA, May 11, 2026: IIM Calcutta Innovation Park (IIMCIP), a leading national social impact incubator, has reinforced its long-term commitment to an inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem by deepening its focus on women entrepreneurs, spanning grassroots livelihoods and innovation-led startups.
Further to its recent MoU with the Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society (JSLPS), entailing a three-year plan focused on building women entrepreneurship across all 24 districts of the state, IIMCIP will train 50,000 women entrepreneurs. The IIMCIP team is set to embark on a program to empower them with the nuances of entrepreneurial success, through a customized approach to grassroots entrepreneurship development, equipping them with capabilities in innovation, market access, and income enhancement.
As a torchbearer of women entrepreneurship, Dr VK Rai, CEO, IIM Calcutta Innovation Park, said, “Women entrepreneurs, particularly from the grassroots, represent a significant opportunity to drive inclusive economic growth in India. Their talent, ambition, and entrepreneurial potential deserve all the opportunities our ecosystem can provide. Our purpose and role at IIMCIP is to transform this powerful potential into sustainable businesses that generate a lasting impact for their families and communities.”
Aligned with the Viksit Bharat Mission and the Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana – National Rural Livelihoods Mission, IIMCIP has been at the forefront of bridging gaps in the startup ecosystem, driving a shift toward a systemic, inclusive, and growth-oriented entrepreneurial ecosystem. Since inception, IIMCIP has enabled more than 500 startups and is also credited with the creation of 59 ‘Crorepati Didis’.
About IIM Calcutta Innovation Park
The IIM Calcutta Innovation Park (IIMCIP) is a not-for-profit (Section 8) company established under the aegis of the Indian Institute of Management Calcutta to promote entrepreneurship and innovation in India. Recognised by the Department of Science & Technology, Government of India, IIMCIP’s mission is to nurture innovative, socially impactful entrepreneurs who can drive inclusive growth.
Its core offerings span structured mentoring, capacity building, seed funding and access to markets and investors. To date, IIMCIP has supported over 2,000 startups and seed-funded 136 ventures, which have collectively raised more than ₹2,000 crore and built a cumulative portfolio valuation of nearly ₹8,000 crore.
IIMCIP also works closely with government bodies, corporates and academia to strengthen India’s innovation ecosystem, foster high-impact collaborations and promote women’s entrepreneurship, with a special focus on underserved regions of the country.
