Business-women worldwide frequently bespeak the challenges in starting and running a business. The challenges can be about anything from prejudice and discrimination, to lack of knowledge and education on how to make their dreams a reality. To help further develop the Goan economy, market, and customer attractiveness, more women must be able to take part in the local and global commercial world. Recognising the important role that women play in society, GCCI established the Women’s Wing in the year 2005. The Women’s Wing is active in its various social endeavours to encourage entrepreneurship among women. Women entrepreneurs get the opportunity to network with other women in the state. This committee is chaired by Pallavi Salgaocar. The GCCI along with Forum for Innovation Incubation and Entrepreneurship Research (FiiRE) in association with Geno Foundation organised the ‘Business Diva’ competition to promote and celebrate women entrepreneurs of Goa
Mayuri Bhate won the GCCI ‘Business Diva’ competition for her innovative startup idea based on areca nut and coconut shells. Her venture focusses on sustainable and eco-friendly products with no chemical process involved in the manufacturing. Ecotopia, her company, makes products that include areca nut table-ware and eco-friendly charcoal briquettes.
The Women’s Wing at Goa Chamber has upped the bar with the ‘Business Diva’ contest – Manoj Caculo, President, Goa Chamber of Commerce & Industry
A total of 46 entries were received from budding women entrepreneurs across the state, of which five contenders made it to the winner’s list. Bhate received a trophy as well as a cash prize of Rs. 50,000. Bhate told Business Goa that she intends to expand her business and find her products in bigger retail stores such as Magsons in the near future. Nivedita Walke won the second prize for her bright idea of incorporating crochet into architecture.
The other three runners- up prizes were bagged by promising emerging lady entrepreneurs – Sinami Shetye, Priyanka Rao and Dr. Priyanka Raikar.
Women are natural risk takers. And that is why entrepreneurship comes naturally to many of us. I am impressed with the line up of lady entrepreneurs in Goa – Dr Pramod Salgaocar, Trustee, Geno Foundation
Priyanka Rao said that she didn’t believe that the ability to be a successful entrepreneur came with a certain gender but she is grateful to ‘Business Diva’ competition for recognising her enterprise.
The 4-member jury panel for the grand finale comprised of wellness entrepreneur Asha Arondekar, founder, Tatava Spa; academician Mridula Goel, professor, BITS Pilani-Goa campus; startup influencer Jyoti Iyer, founder of an incubator; and Varsha Pai Raikar, businesswoman.
Pallavi Dempo, Executive Director of Dempo Industries Ltd, was the chief guest for the function while Manoj Caculo, president, GCCI and Dr. Pramod Salgaocar, director, Geno Pharmaceuticals were the guests of honour.
The function was presided over by Pallavi Salgaocar, chairperson and Poonam Shirsat, vice-chairperson, of GCCI Women’s Wing, and D S Prashant, CEO of Forum for Innovation Incubation Research and Entrepreneurship (FiiRE).
This event will pave the way for ladies to be inspired to take up entrepreneurship. The sheer quality and competition is what has made ‘Business Diva’ a huge success – Pallavi Dempo, Director, Dempo Industries
Goa Chamber of Commerce Women’s Wing in association with Forum for innovation, incubation, Research & Entrepreneurship ( FiiRE ) and powered by Geno Foundation launched ‘The Business Diva’ competition on the 11 November 2019.
This competition was organised to encourage women with innovative businesses and start-up ideas to come forward and present themselves in the limelight of the entrepreneurial space. The competition proved to be a means to help these entrepreneurs get structured incubation at FiiRE, mentoring by industry veterans and captains, networking opportunities, access to funding, besides the cash prizes awarded to the winners. The competition aimed to identify and support women with innovative businesses or startup ideas, encourage and facilitate entrepreneurship among women and raise the standard of living of society through women empowerment.
During the grand finale, Pallavi Salgaocar, chairperson of GCCI Women Wing explained how the Wing was established to empower women entrepreneurs, self-help groups and professionals. She also spoke about Geno Foundation which is a Trust set up by Geno Pharmaceuticals Pvt ltd which promotes activities related to sports, education, women empowerment, environmental sustainability, and gender equality.
Inseyah Ali incubation manager of FiiRE spoke about how the technology business incubator established with the help of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India hosts mentoring and incubation programs for startups at Don Bosco College at Fatorda.
Manoj Caculo also spoke about the incredible work of GCCI Women’s Wing in assisting women entrepreneurs with any business-related issues and hoped that the women of Goa will flourish in their future ventures.
The GCCI Women’s Wing has been led in the past by Pratima Dhond, Varsha Pai Raiker, Jennifer Lewis e Kamat, to name a few. With a strong focussed on women entrepreneurship, they have made a positive impact on the entrepreneurial space in the state
Finalists at business diva competition
The contest at the Goa Chamber Women’s Wing organised ‘Business Diva’ saw 46 lady entrepreneurs vie to get into the grand finale of 10 super achievers
- Established in 2018, Ecotopia is building and marketing sustainable products using agro waste as raw materials helping farmers generate income from agro waste from their field. At Ecotopia, they make Areca nut table ware and coconut shell charcoal briquettes since July 2019. Mayuri Bhate, Co-founder, Ecotopia
- Started ‘Thread Architecture’ which takes the traditional granny’s craft of crochet to a new level of art which can be put to use in interior design and architecture in the form of installations and sculputre, giving true recognition to this art form. Nivedita Walke, Architect
- Hy Femme Sanitary Napkins that satisfies criterias such as hygiene, comfort, absorbing power and affordability. It feels safe to use and does not have any gel or perfumes. Sinami Shetye, SHC Goa
- Brunchbites, Goa’s first online meal box – doorstep delivered was founded in August 2018. From school tiffins and corporate lunches to senior citizen thaali boxes and customized event meal boxes. Priyanka Row
Co-founder, Brunch Bites - Empowering women is Tarang, a platform initiated for women entrepreneurs of Goa to promote their business online and through activities like flea markets and exhibitions across Goa. The company’s motto is to support and empower women to promote their products. Sweta Chari & Mansi Govekar Tarang
- Paediatric Occupational Therapist (super specialized: paediatric neurology).
First venture to start multi-disciplinary clinic in Goa to help newborns to teenagers struggling in any area development/ disability at two locations – Panjim and Margao. Dr Priyanka Raikar, Miracle, Paediatric Neuro Therapy Clinic - Building a labour law consultancy that supports other businesses in obtaining clearances of licences and registrations and also provides them with virtual HR systems. Nisha Gad, Labour Law Consultancy
- Nut Shell In – Energy Out”, Aiming for sustainable development in India, this idea could prove to be a game changer in terms of effective waste management of several nut shells and also increase in use of bio-fuel generated by processing these dry fruit nut shells. Vaishnavi Kamat, Nut Shell Waste Management
- A STEM education company, aims at ‘Experiencing innovation Through Technology’. It focusses on imparting practical knowledge through its developed STEM educational kits, workshops and training. Sunaya Sshirodkar, Asier Solutions
- The Legal Capsule- an Aritificial Intelligence powered paperless legal documents automation platform which includes features such as E-sign using aadhaar, online stamp paper procurement, E-NACH (Auto debit facility for recurring payments) and E-KYC using aadhaar and live video KYC. Gautami Raiker, Lawmate
