IIM Indore launches business accelerator programme for SC/ST entrepreneurs

The Story in Brief

In Indore, the IIM Indore Incubation Foundation has launched the Business Accelerator Programme, a flagship initiative of the National SC-ST Hub under the Ministry of MSME, to support SC/ST entrepreneurs. The programme combines classroom learning, expert mentorship, industry networking and market‑access support, and includes orientation on the Government e‑Marketplace and public procurement opportunities. Selected participants will attend a six‑day residential immersion at IIM Indore, complete 36 hours of virtual sessions and receive six months of mentoring; successful participants will get a joint certification from IIM Indore, the Ministry of MSME and the National SC‑ST Hub.

The programme is open to existing SC/ST entrepreneurs who have been operating for at least six months and to wards of SC/ST entrepreneurs seeking to develop and scale ideas, with special preference for SC/ST women micro and small enterprises. The total fee is Rs 1,11,000 + GST, but eligible participants can get Rs 1,00,000 + GST assistance under the National SC‑ST Hub Scheme, reducing the participant contribution to Rs 11,000 + GST. Applications are open until Aug 31 and the programme is tentatively scheduled for Oct 19-24.

The Indian Opinion

The article presents the programme positively and quotes institutional leadership on entrepreneurship’s role in inclusion and growth; this framing is promotional and likely intended to encourage applications. An ordinary reader would welcome the support for SC/ST entrepreneurs but note that the report omits several operational details: the number of seats, full selection criteria beyond the six‑month operating requirement, and measurable success metrics. The fee subsidy is a concrete benefit, yet the remaining participant contribution could still be a constraint for some. The emphasis on GeM orientation and joint certification are useful features, but the long‑term impact depends on participant numbers, mentoring quality and actual access to markets-information not provided in the article.

Original article: IIM Indore Launches Business Accelerator Programme for SC/ST Entrepreneurs (www.freepressjournal.in)

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