NASSCOM in association with Black Box Connect launches Female Founders Edition

National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) which is already working for startups in India has now launched Female Founders Edition. The initiative is in association with Blackbox Connect.

It aims at giving women entrepreneurs from India an opportunity to showcase their work at a global level. The collaboration is part of NASSCOM’s 10,000 start-ups initiative to build and sustain 10,000 technology start-ups in India by 2023.

Earlier Tookitaki, GreedyGames, Delta-X won the Blackbox Connect 2 week immersion program in Silicon Valley. Expressing his views on the collaboration, Fadi Bishara founder and CEO of Blackbox said, “We are thrilled to have 10,000 Startups as a partner for Blackbox Connect Female Founders Edition and are looking forward to seeing the great companies that they will nominate. We have had a fruitful collaboration so far and we share the commitment to Google for Entrepreneurs #40Forward initiative, creating more inclusive networks and empower female leaders globally”.

Last year, the ‘10,000 start-ups’ program launched a special initiative targeted towards women entrepreneurs in technology, christened as the ‘Girls in Technology’ (GIT) program. The program was aimed at encouraging and promoting women entrepreneurs in the country. Since its launch, NASSCOM has conducted various programs in Bengaluru, Chennai and Delhi which were attended by over 350 delegates.

Expressing his views on the women entrepreneur ecosystem, Rajat Tandon, senior director, NASSCOM said, “Women have always been a vital part of the Indian IT-BPM industry and has about 3.5 million female employees. Hence, it is imperative that they are encouraged to join the start-up revolution in the country. Through our collaborations and initiatives we hope to create more inclusive networks and to move the needle for women entrepreneurs.”

Another leg of the initiative works on enhancing women’s talent and skills needed to fuel technological and economic growth. Hence, in order to help women and girls enter and succeed in technology start-ups NASSCOM has also partnered with Women Enhancing Technology (WeTech). The partnership is for a special event with a group of 60 selected girls from middle and high school in Bangalore to develop mobile applications. Women were mentored by 24 senior leaders from Goldman Sachs and Qualcomm and 3 winners were announced.