



About The Program
Alliance for Commercialization and Innovation Research (ACIR) and the U.S. Consulate in Hyderabad are organizing the Academy for Women Entrepreneurs (AWE) program in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
The AWE program gives businesswomen the knowledge, connections, and access they need to start and grow successful businesses. By promoting women's economic opportunities and making sure they have the skills and resources to take part in the economy, the program directly supports gender equity and equality.
The program is fully funded by the U.S. Consulate in Hyderabad and will be delivered by the ACIR, which runs the Nexus incubator program in Delhi, and its partners.
Key Objectives
Provide Knowledge

to women through U.S-style online education, guided facilitation, and local mentoring with alumni from U.S. exchange programs, business leaders, and other local partners.
Foster Networks

to gain access to peer-to-peer mentorship, strategic business relationships, and growth opportunities with businesses in India and in the United States
Provide Access

to educational and entrepreneurial resources through ongoing US Embassy programs and the alumni network that will help women scale their businesses..



AWE Participation
AWE uses a hybrid model that combines the online DreamBuilder platform with virtual mentoring and facilitation. Through AWE, participants learn core business skills, then get together as a class to discuss the material.
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The program will have two cohorts, one from Telangana and one from Andhra Pradesh. Participants from each cohort will attend the one-day orientation session and the final two days of the capstone session in-person at Hyderabad or Visakhapatnam, respectively.
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Benefits
Participating in the AWE program will provide startups with a range of benefits, including:

Fully funded by the U.S. Consulate in Hyderabad

Expert coaching in launching and growing your startup

Build a strong local network and foster collaborations

Certificate of completion from the U.S. Consulate General, Hyderabad and ACIR

Opportunity to submit an express application to the Nexus program.
Eligibility

Only women entrepreneurs in the age group of 21-45 are eligible to apply

Applicant should be running a business for at least 6 months but not more than 2 years

Venture should be registered in Telangana or Andhra Pradesh

Applicant should have basic computer skills for accessing the online course
Selections Announcement - August 8, 2024 (rolling basis)

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1. Is AWE only for women?AWE targets women entrepreneurs who either already have a business, or plan to launch one.
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2. How to apply?To apply please fill this online form.
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3. How will I know if I am selected?In case you are selected you will be informed via email on your registered email ID.
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4. Is there any fee for this program?No, there is no fee for the training itself. However, participants are responsible for covering their own travel expenses to attend the one-day, in-person orientation session and the two-day, in person capstone workshops.
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5. Where can I reach out for more details?For more details please feel free to contact us on preksha@acirfound.org
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6. What will be the language of instruction during the workshops?All workshops will be conducted in English.
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7. Can I attend virtually?The program will have two cohorts, one from Telangana and one from Andhra Pradesh. Participants from each cohort will attend the one-day orientation session and the final two days of the capstone session in-person at Hyderabad or Visakhapatnam, respectively.. The Dream Builder Curriculum and the bi-weekly follow-up sessions will take place virtually. Please refer to the "Timeline" section above for the schedule.
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8. Will the startups receive any certificate for attending the workshop?Each startup that completes the workshop will receive a certificate from ACIR and the U.S. Consulate in Hyderabad.

Dr. Vijayalakshmi R

Assistant Professor, St. Francis College for Women, Hyderabad
Dr. Vijayalakshmi leverages her 18 years of teaching experience and research background to empower women entrepreneurs. Her passion for finance translates into practical mentorship, equipping women business owners with relevant academic knowledge and actionable insights. With a talent for clear communication, she tailors complex financial concepts for easy comprehension. Having successfully mentored the Telangana chapter of the AWE organization in 2023, Dr. Vijayalakshmi possesses a deep understanding of the unique challenges and aspirations women entrepreneurs face. Dr. Vijayalakshmi further empowers them by connecting them with well-established resources allowing them to gain valuable insights from the experts.

Sri Sudha S

Assistant Manager & Scientific Officer, National Research Development Corporation (NRDC)
Ms. Sri Sudha has a diverse work experience of 10 years across business development, technology commercialization, Intellectual Property management, marketing intelligence,
startup mentoring and Innovation management. She is currently working as Assistant Manager at NRDC under the ministry of science & technology. At NRDC, she is involved in coordination, implementation and monitoring of various innovative programmes of various ministries like MHI, DST, Meity and Startup India. She successfully organized Academy for Women Entrepreneurship Program 2023, bringing together exceptional women entrepreneurs in Visakhapatnam and provided unwavering support throughout their entrepreneurial
journey.

Erik Azulay

President, ACIR
Erik Azulay is a technology commercialization expert and serial entrepreneur specializing in small business startups and international market strategies. He has managed commercialization and incubation projects in 12 countries around the world and launched and sold two logistics companies based in the United States and Russia.
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As President of the Alliance for Commercialization and Innovation Research, he currently runs the Nexus Innovation Hub and Incubator in New Delhi, funded by the U.S. State Department, to support the startup ecosystem in India. The Nexus Incubator showcases best practices in incubation and entrepreneurship from the U.S. and India and its startups have raised over $80 million in funding.

Our Trainers

About Us

U.S. Consulate Hyderabad
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Under the leadership of the Consul General, the United States Consulate General in Hyderabad promotes U.S. interests and the U.S.-India bilateral relationship in the states of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. The Consulate does so through diplomatic and cultural relations with government officials, the business community, and the general public.
Established in 2009, the U.S. Consulate General in Hyderabad is the newest U.S. diplomatic office to open in India, the first new mission since India’s independence. It is but one reflection of the United States’ commitment to strengthening its relationship and engagement with the people and Government of India.

ACIR
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The Alliance for Commercialization and Innovation Research (ACIR) is an American non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization providing consulting, training and program management services in the fields of innovation, incubation and entrepreneurship.
ACIR has successfully run entrepreneurship programs around the world including in South Korea, Kazakhstan, Russia and the United States, with the most recent being the Nexus Incubator and Startup Hub in New Delhi, India. Nexus is considered one of the top business incubators in India, having graduated over 231 companies who have gone on to raise over $80 million USD in outside funding.
Ecosystem Partners




