Grass-root Entrepreneurship Development
I Create India is dedicated to providing entrepreneurship training to the disadvantaged members of the society- focusing on youth as well as underprivileged women in India. Founded by US-based Harsh Bhargava and his wife Dr Aruna, I Create’s vision is of a prosperous India spearheaded by grass-root-level entrepreneurs.
Dual-Focused Programs
I Create has partnered with Network For Teaching Entrepreneurship (NFTE) of USA in developing the country-appropriate program and teaching methodology – for India. It has designed programs appropriate for two main streams of implementation:
“Creating Job Creators” helps members of different disadvantaged target groups and others at the bottom of the pyramid learn about starting a business and motivates them to become entrepreneurs.
“Changing the Mindset: Entrepreneurship as a Career Option” provides youth in educational institutions with basic understanding of entrepreneurship and encourages them to consider entrepreneurship as a viable career option.
The main programs are:
- Entrepreneurship Awareness Program.
- Aspiring Entrepreneurs Workshop.
- 40-Period Program for youth.
- Business Plan Competitions.
Widening Avenue
Head-quartered in Bengaluru, I Create India runs centers in Kolkata, Jaipur and Baroda, Rajkot, Hubli, Bengaluru, Delhi and Mumbai. I Ceate India has trained over 1,000 Master Trainers, while 30,000 have gone through its entrepreneurship awareness program. Over 6,500 people have received training to become entrepreneurs, of which more than 1,400 have been successful in embarking on their entrepreneurial journey.
To encourage the spirit of entrepreneurship, I Create offers a seed capital of a maximum of Rs 25,000 per participant for a span of 20 to 25 months. The seed capital project has been piloted in Paschim Bonga and Karnataka with remarkable success.
Unique Operating Model
An I Create center is sponsored by an individual or an organization (grand sponsor) which has its mission congruent to that of I Create. Each center works closely with partner organizations (NGOs, vocational institutions, colleges, self help groups and other disadvantaged members).
I Create has forged partnerships with 250 NGOs and educational institutes which provide infrastructure for training and allow their members to become faculty or MTs, while all necessary technical support, quality control and coordination for program implementation are provided by I Create. This model is referred as the Modified Business Format Franchising.
The Road Ahead
- Setting up a slew of centers covering different parts of India.
- Provide support to the centers through a network of mentors and angel investors to help aspiring entrepreneurs.
