WE-Engage SPARK Cohort 3

About this scheme

WE Hub, India's first state-led nodal organisation for women entrepreneurs, was established by the Government of Telangana. It presents the WE-Engage SPARK Cohort 3, a 12-week intensive accelerator program. This initiative targets early-stage women-led startups that have validated their Minimum Viable Product (MVP) and demonstrated early market traction or initial revenue. The program aims to help founders scale effectively beyond initial successes and establish sustainable market growth for their ventures.

The accelerator delivers personalised mentorship from industry experts, providing guidance for navigating business expansion. Participants engage in hands-on bootcamp training sessions, focused on practical strategies for market entry and scaling techniques. A key benefit includes access to diverse funding opportunities, encompassing grants, seed capital, and debt financing, alongside networking connections to investors and key ecosystem partners essential for sustained growth.

Who can apply

• Women-led startups with a minimum of 51% female ownership in the company are eligible to apply; the majority stake and leadership must be held by a woman founder or co-founder.
• Applicants must have a validated MVP (Minimum Viable Product) with demonstrated early traction or early revenue generation, confirming the startup has moved beyond ideation and pure development into market validation.
• The business must be legally registered and currently operating in India; unregistered ventures or those operating outside India are not eligible.
• The program is designed specifically for founders ready to scale beyond their initial traction toward sustainable market growth , not startups still in the process of building their core product or testing basic product-market fit.
• Startups from any sector are considered, provided they are women-led and meet the ownership, registration, and traction criteria described above.
• Applicants are expected to commit to the full 12-week intensive program, which includes bootcamp sessions, one-on-one mentoring engagements, and investor interaction activities organised by WE Hub. Commitment to all scheduled program activities and engagements is mandatory for selection.

Benefits & funding

• A 12-week intensive accelerator program offering personalised mentorship from industry experts and hands-on bootcamp training for market entry and scaling.
• Participants gain access to diverse funding opportunities, including grants, seed capital, and debt financing, plus networking connections with investors and key ecosystem partners.

Frequently asked questions