Goa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (GCCI) Women’s Wing was established in 2005 with the purpose of empowering women entrepreneurs, self-help groups and professionals. It conducts various programs and workshops to empower women entrepreneurs.
Forum for Innovation Incubation Research and Entrepreneurship (FiiRE) is a Technology Business Incubator established with the support of Department of Science and Technology, Government of India and is hosted at the Don Bosco College of Engineering, Fatorda, Goa.
FiiRE supports early stage technology ventures which work towards innovation, development or improvement of products, processes or services with a scalable business model. It offers incubation support, co-working space, testing laboratory, training halls and other facilities to its incubatees and entrepreneurs.
Geno Foundation is a trust managed by Geno Pharmaceutical Pvt Ltd, a renowned pharmaceuticals company based at Goa. Geno Foundation mainly focuses on empowering women, promoting national sports and social welfare.
To achieve their objective of promoting innovation and entrepreneurial specific environment, GCCI Women’s Wing in association with FiiRE had jointly organised ‘Business Diva’ competition 2020 powered by Geno Foundation. The overwhelming response and positive feedback received for the programme convinced them to make it into an annual event. The event is a business idea competition for women and would mainly focus on innovative solutions to women-centric issues and problems. The aim of ‘Business Diva’ Competition 2022 is to reach a wider audience and positively impact and uplift more women entrepreneurs during these trying times.
The event will be co-ordinated by Ashlesha de Noronha (FiiRE), Pallavi Salgaocar (Chairperson, GCCI Women’s Wing) and Poonam Shirsat (Co-Chair, GCCI Women’s Wing) and supported by other staff from FiiRE and members of GCCI Women’s Wing.
The last date for applications is 9th March, 2022.
Women above the age of 18 with innovative businesses can participate. There will be three categories under which participants can apply:-
1) Category I: Businesses in operation for less than two years (starting up).
2) Category II: Businesses in operation for more than two years (scaling up).
3) Category III: Self Help Groups.
The winners of the competition will be awarded cash prizes along with support from FiiRE, mentoring by industry veterans, networking opportunities and access to funding opportunities.
