PU Hosts Tech Startup Connect & Grow Workshop on Women Entrepreneurship

Chandigarh, February 5, 2025: In a significant step towards fostering women-led innovation and entrepreneurship, PI-RAHI (Panjab University-IIT Ropar Regional Accelerator for Holistic Innovations Foundation) today hosted the TECH STARTUP CONNECT & GROW WORKSHOP under SHE COHORT 3.0, in collaboration with the Punjab State Council for Science & Technology (PSCST) at Panjab University, Chandigarh.

SHE (Startup Handholding & Empowerment) is a dedicated initiative aimed at supporting women entrepreneurs in technology and innovation by providing structured mentorship, strategic guidance, and industry connections to scale their ventures successfully.

The workshop was inaugurated by PU Vice Chancellor Prof. Renu Vig, along with PSCST Executive Director, Er. Pritpal Singhm. The event also marked the launch of IDEA-PHIED 3.0 – Ignite Your Entrepreneurial Dreams!, a platform to nurture entrepreneurial aspirations among women in technology. As many as 250 participants, which included faculty, research scholars, students of Panjab University and its affiliated colleges, participated in the workshop. Girl students of Chandigarh Group of Colleges, Jhanjeri, Saraswati Group of Institutions, Jhanjeri and RIMT University, Gobindgarh also attended the function.

A dynamic fireside chat on “Empowering Women Entrepreneurs: Policies, Progress, and the Path Forward in Punjab” was led by Manish Verma (Co-founder & CEO, AngelBlue Holdings), featuring expert insights from Dr. Dapinder Kaur Bakshi (PSCST) and Mr. Satyendra Singh (CEO, TBI IISER Mohali). The session was followed by inspirational entrepreneurship success stories shared by Ms. Isha Handa (AIC, Indian School of Business) and Mr. Satyendra Singh (TBI IISER Mohali).

A highlight of the event was a panel discussion on "Tech-Driven Women Entrepreneurs: Pioneering the Future of Innovation and Impact", moderated by Ms. Neha Arora, COO, PI-RAHI. The panel featured prominent entrepreneurs including Ms. Prerna Kalra (Co-Founder, HanuAI Pvt. Ltd.), Ms. Isha Handa (AIC, Indian School of Business), Ms. Anubhi Khandelwal (CEO & Founder, Terafac), and Manish Verma (Co-founder & CEO, AngelBlue Holdings).

The workshop concluded with networking sessions, fostering collaborations and meaningful conversations among aspiring young entrepreneurs, industry leaders, and startup ecosystem enablers.

Prof. Rajat Sandhir Coordinator of the program expressed his happiness on the success of the workshop and said that PI-RAHI is committed to strengthening the entrepreneurial landscape for women in STEM by creating platforms for knowledge sharing, policy discussions, and funding opportunities.