WE Engage - Wadhwani Liftoff: PROPEL

• A 12-week programme for women-led startups in early growth or scaling.
• A joint effort by WE Hub and the Wadhwani Foundation.
• Co-designed modules, expert mentoring, and hands-on bootcamps.
• Help to reach markets, funding, and professional networks.
• Run by India's first state-led incubator for women entrepreneurs.

About this scheme

WE Engage, Wadhwani Liftoff: PROPEL is a 12-week, intensive programme made for women entrepreneurs working through the early growth and scaling phases of their businesses. It is a joint effort between WE Hub, a Government of Telangana initiative and India's first state-led incubator for women entrepreneurs, and the Wadhwani Foundation, a global non-profit that drives economic development through entrepreneurship. WE Hub has a solid record with women-led ventures, including helping arrange a sizeable recoverable grant for Huwel Lifesciences through its partnerships.

PROPEL sets out to give participants real access to market openings, varied sources of funding, and a wide professional network. While the programme provides direct support, it also opens doors to financial instruments such as grants, seed funding, and debt, drawing on WE Hub's broad partnership base, so founders are better placed to raise the capital that scaling needs.

Those on PROPEL follow a tailored path of co-designed modules, one-to-one mentoring from industry experts, and hands-on bootcamps. Together these help founders sharpen product-market fit, build scalable business models, and strengthen their ability to win outside funding. With its focus on market traction, sustainability, and strategic guidance, the programme aims to lift women-led businesses to their next stage and, across India, to add to economic growth and job creation.

Who can apply

• The programme is only for startups led by women.
• A woman entrepreneur must hold at least 51% of the company.
• Where the startup has been funded before, a woman must still hold at least 33%.
• As an alternative, a woman can qualify by holding an equal or majority stake, or by serving as one of the CXOs.
• Applicants should be from urban India, and the business must be legally registered in India.
• The startup should be in early growth or scaling and already earning revenue.
• Founders need to be ready to raise funding, with a clear plan and some early traction.
• Startups from every industry are welcome.

Benefits & funding

• Twelve weeks of curriculum co-designed with the Wadhwani Foundation, spanning product-market fit, scalable business models, and readiness to fundraise.
• Strategic guidance from people who have built and scaled businesses, supply-chain support, market openings across India, and investor connections.
• Help from WE Hub to reach grants, seed funding, and debt through its partner network, though the programme itself guarantees no set cheque.

How the application process works

The journey below is informational, compiled from the official program guidelines. Applications are submitted directly with WE Hub, in your own name.

1. 1

   Applications go in through the WE Hub Google Form.

2. 2

   WE Hub and the Wadhwani Foundation review entries and shortlist women-led startups in early growth or scaling, looking at revenue traction, how scalable the model is, and readiness to raise funding.

3. 3

   Those picked for the cohort join the 12-week structured programme.

Frequently asked questions