Saksham , Women Entrepreneurship Support Program

• Women entrepreneurs at any stage seeking incubation and financial support from BITS Pilani and Oxyzo.

About this scheme

Saksham , Women Entrepreneurship Support Program is a targeted initiative to empower women entrepreneurs emerging from Tier 2, Tier 3, and rural India. Launched by Oxyzo Financial Services in partnership with PIEDS : Pilani Innovation & Entrepreneurship Development Society at BITS Pilani, the program aims to bridge structural gaps in access to capital, mentorship, and incubation infrastructure that often limit women founders outside metropolitan ecosystems.

The program provides financial support of up to Rs. 10 lakhs to selected startups, enabling early-stage founders to validate ideas, build prototypes, strengthen operations, and accelerate go-to-market strategies. Beyond funding, Saksham offers structured mentorship and capacity-building support to help women entrepreneurs refine business models, improve financial planning, strengthen governance, and scale sustainably. Participants gain access to incubation support and institutional infrastructure through PIEDS, including workspace access and entrepreneurial guidance within a structured innovation ecosystem.

Strategically, Saksham is positioned to decentralize startup growth by encouraging innovation from emerging cities and rural clusters, fostering inclusive entrepreneurship, and increasing women's equity ownership in scalable ventures. By requiring majority ownership by a woman co-founder, the program ensures meaningful leadership participation and long-term wealth creation for women entrepreneurs.

The initiative is particularly beneficial for women-led startups that have not previously received funding from PIEDS and are formally registered as Private Limited entities. By combining financial assistance with ecosystem support and mentorship, Saksham strengthens both business viability and founder capability. The program ultimately contributes to building a more inclusive and geographically diverse startup ecosystem aligned with the broader vision of enabling innovation-driven growth across Bharat.

Who can apply

• The startup must be registered as a Private Limited company.
• A woman co-founder must hold at least 51% equity in the startup.
• The startup must be based in a Tier 2 or Tier 3 city.
• The startup must not have previously received any funding from PIEDS.
• Open to women founders from Tier 2, Tier 3, or rural India.

Eligible entity types: Private Limited

Frequently asked questions