IIM Kozhikode, Kudumbashree Mission launch project to support women-led enterprises
Kozhikode:
IIM Kozhikode
's Laboratory for Innovation Venturing and Entrepreneurship (IIM-K LIVE) business incubator, in collaboration with
Kudumbashree Mission
, launched the 'SmartShree' project which aims to support and scale 150 micro-enterprise units led by Kudumbashree women entrepreneurs through
capacity building
and mentorship and institutional backing.
The inauguration ceremony was attended by district collector Snehil Kumar Singh District alongside IIM-K LIVE executive director Ashutosh Sarkar and Kudumbashree district mission coordinator PC Kavitha.
"Innovation is the need of the hour. We must move towards wealth creation through job creation. Initiatives like SmartShree are crucial for growing bigger and better through entrepreneurship," Singh said.
'SmartShree' aims to bring together IIM-K LIVE's robust entrepreneurial ecosystem and Kudumbashree's extensive grassroots network. The initiative is designed to catalyze sustainable growth, enhance local livelihoods, and foster a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship among women in Kerala, officials said.
IIM-K director Debashis Chatterjee said that empowering women at the grassroots is not just economic reform, but a societal transformation.
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"SmartShree is an expression of IIM-K's mission to democratize entrepreneurship and create a more inclusive future. We are proud to be part of this journey," he said.
The selected enterprises span diverse sectors, including manufacturing, services, and food processing.
Sarkar said that SmartShree reflects IIM-K's focus on inclusive entrepreneurship. "By equipping women at the grassroots with tools, knowledge, and market access, we are creating pathways for resilient and sustainable local economies. This initiative is central to our commitment to capacity building and social innovation," he added.
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