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A Thriving Community of Women Entrepreneurs
about-us

About STEP

STEP is a gender inclusive incubator dedicated to advancing women’s entrepreneurship across India. We support women founders to build sustainable, impact-driven businesses that address real-world challenges. Through hands-on capacity building, one-on-one mentorship, and catalytic funding, STEP transforms grassroots ideas into scalable enterprises led by women. These ventures are rooted in community, powered by purpose, and drive inclusive growth in areas like climate action, livelihoods, and the circular economy.
Whether you’re a partner looking to drive gender equity, or a participant ready to lead change—STEP offers the platform, support, and network to help women entrepreneurs thrive and shape a more equitable future.

Vision

We envision a collaborative, empathetic & thriving ecosystem of women innovators & entrepreneurs.

Mission

To empower every woman entrepreneur in sustainability and rural microenterprises touched by our work – through focused incubation, mentorship, and community support – enabling them to become architects of lasting economic transformation and positively impact 100 million lives by 2035.

Legacy

Our legacy is defined by our commitment to empowering women, fostering leadership, and creating opportunities for success.

"STEP's commitment to promoting entrepreneurship is commendable and deeply appreciated. The skills and knowledge I have acquired through this program will undoubtedly benefit me in my future endeavors. I would like to acknowledge the exceptional support and assistance provided by STEP."

Karan Bidve

Fellow- District Fellowship (Nashik)
"STEP's greatest power is women supporting women by empathizing with gender-based challenges compounded with being a founder."

Praapti Jayaswal

Co-Founder Aarogya AI
"STEP supported us with the funds under SISFS and guided in digital marketing, facilitated connections with investors and fellow entreprenurs, driving growth."

Surbhi Bhatia

Co-founder, The Mom Store
"STEP facilitated us with funding that helped us in allocating resources towards our initial manpower requirements, research and pre-development marketing efforts."

Anjuben Padaliya

Founder, Kumkum Wellness
"STEP allowed me to introspect on who I am as an entrepreneur. The sessions made us feel we were ‘back in school’ and challenged us in many areas."

Sruti Harihara

Co-founder, Goli Soda
"The STEP community was my sanctuary, a dance floor where I could let my hair down and learn and indulge myself, which was very replenishing. "

Bhavana Issar

Caregive Saathi
"Aspire For Her was a fairly amorphous organization when I joined STEP. It helped me structure my organization, figure out my profit and non-profit arm, and gave me insights on funding and the impact."

Madhura Das Gupta Sinha

Aspire for Her
“Lacking funding and credibility, scaling our tech solutions was tough. STEP’s mentorship refined our vision, pitch, and strategy, boosting investor readiness. With funding, we’re building tech infrastructure, expanding our app, creating content, and hiring talent.”

Mrinalini Ahuja (SISFS)

Covergrow Digital Solutions Pvt. Ltd.
“Securing STEP funding was pivotal as we struggled with limited capital for marketing. STEP’s belief in our vision and hands-on support, including refining our pitch and exposure at Startup Mahakumbh, empowered us. With this funding, we’re strengthening our digital presence.”

Sonali Sadhwani (SISFS)

Co-Founder, EZFashion Apparels LLP
“The STEP grant helped us conduct POC trials and build a sales pipeline despite hardware barriers. Their support, clear communication, and events provided valuable exposure and connections for women entrepreneurs.”

Ramya Achar (SISFS)

Co-Founder, Aicumen Corporation Pvt. Ltd.
“With no similar product and no business background, gaining investor trust was tough. STEP believed in us, helped refine our pitch, and boosted our confidence. Now, we're using the funding to strengthen our pilot plant, upgrade lab equipment, and increase visibility.”

Anjali Puranik (SISFS)

Founder, Bhagirath Laboratories(OPC) Pvt. Ltd..
“Funding shortages limited our inventory and market reach beyond Meghalaya. This grant gave us the confidence to enter e-commerce, hire help, and build stock. We're now taking steps toward national visibility while staying true to our roots.”

Iaishah Rymbai (SISFS)

Founder, Eri Weave Pvt. Ltd.
“Before funding, delays, and resource gaps made it hard to retain talent. With funding secured ,we’re starting raw material procurement, waste processing, and validation tests. We're optimistic about the journey ahead with STEP’s mentorship and support.”

Ruchi Kaul (SISFS)

Co-Founder,Mattersmart Consulting Pvt. Ltd.
“Before the grant, limited funds for packaging and marketing hindered our online growth. STEP’s support and seed funding helped us boost visibility, refine our pitch, improve unit economics, and showcase at key events like Startup Mahakumbh 2025.”

Minakshi Karwal (SISFS)

Elixio Pvt. Ltd.
“Our biggest challenge was collecting blood samples and obtaining Human Ethical Approval, which required financial support. STEP’s mentorship was crucial, guiding us through pitch refinement, clarifying objectives, and securing funds, bringing us closer to realizing our solution.”

Mala. R (SISFS)

Founder, Aanandhamayaa Green Solutions
”When we applied for funding, we were still refining our approach. STEP’s founder-friendly, thorough process helped us improve our business plan, metrics, and pitch. Their mentorship, feedback, and network were invaluable, while Startup Mahakumbh boosted our visibility and learning.”

Poonam Gugale (SISFS)

Founder, FollowG Global Pvt. Ltd.
”Before funding, scaling our AI tech and achieving product-market fit was a major hurdle. STEP’s structured approach, hands-on mentorship, and clear process helped us focus on what mattered, making the journey smoother, more transparent, and impactful."

Sulmeet Kaur (SISFS)

Founder, Aezo Tech Pvt. Ltd.
”Participating in the Stanford seed Spark program has been a transformative experience for me. I’ve gained invaluable insights and support that have significantly shaped my entrepreneurial journey."

Parul Agarwal (SISFS)

Numen Ventures.
”This internship has been a valuable experience. It helped me improve my soft skills and work in a supportive environment. I’m grateful for the emphasis on efficiency and the guidance I received—it’s truly helped me grow.”

Kashish (SISFS)

Miranda House, Student Entrepreneurship Program.

Our Impact

Startups incubated
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Lives
Lives touched
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Funding support by STEP
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Follow-on funding raised by startups
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Our Partners

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