Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women

Helping established women entrepreneurs scale up their business ventures

Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women is a global initiative that fosters economic growth and development by providing women entrepreneurs around the world with business and management education, mentoring and networking, and access to capital.

The program was founded on the belief that investing in women entrepreneurs leads to economic growth and stronger communities. Since 2008, 10,000 Women has been successful in training and empowering over 10,000 business women  across 100 + countries. 

The participants will not be charged any course fee for the program, as it is fully funded by Goldman Sachs.

Who is it for?

The program is geared towards established women entrepreneurs  looking for support to scale their ventures, who own or run small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) who meet the following requirements:

A key decision maker in a senior leadership (CEO/COO/President)

Owner or co-owner of the venture

The business should be operational for at least one year

Should be open to accessing external sources of capital to scale

Must have at least 3 employees

Annual turnover should be between ₹30 lakhs and ₹30 crore

Should not have previously participated in 10,000 Women

Program Highlights

Knowledge Sessions

Over the course of three months of sessions at the IIM Bangalore campus, entrepreneurs will enhance their knowledge, as well as their managerial and leadership skills, to scale up their businesses. The business knowledge covers all aspects of running the industry, such as building and implementing strategies, scalability, spotting opportunities, accounting and finance, optimizing operations, going digital and marketing, negotiation, decision-making, and leadership.

Mentoring

Mentoring holds the clue to address various business challenges and enables entrepreneurs to optimally apply their learnings toward business growth. One-to-one and group mentoring will be scheduled based on the business requirements and matched with experts and professionals from diverse industries. 

Business Growth Plan

The Business Growth Plan (BGP) is a strategically drafted document that serves as a roadmap for participants to run their businesses for the upcoming years. It helps the entrepreneur take a step back to reflect on the fundamental aspects of business growth and decide on the journey forward. When distilled in the form of a presentation, this document becomes a business pitch. At the end of the program, the participants present their pitches for constructive feedback.

Alumni Engagement

The entrepreneur’s journey gains momentum when the participant becomes an alum of the program and broadens their networks and engagements. The alums connect during boot camps, city meet-ups, conclaves, and webinars; they gain access to the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women global community and NSRCEL alum community and are supported through mentoring sessions and workshops. Further, entrepreneurs can track their growth through mentoring and evaluation.

Application Process

The application process is online and will only take you 15 minutes. You are required to upload the scanned copy of the following documents along with the application form:

1

For verification of identity: Aadhar Card/Pan Card/Driving License/Passport

2

Ownership/Designation: Only official documents like GST Registration (will hold good for proprietorship). In case of Partnership, LLP and Pvt Ltd -Partnership Deed/MoA/ AoA is acceptable.

3

For Revenue: Revenue certificate or P&L statement is acceptable

4

Final selection for the programme will be made through an interview round

Testimonials

Chinmayie KV,
Founder, Little Hearts Venture Pvt. Ltd.

Despite years of building a brand and lacking formal business education, this program offered a solid foundation. The fantastic sessions by IIMB professors and the invaluable network of women entrepreneurs transformed my life. From selection to completion, the guidance, patience, and support were exemplary.

Durga Das,
Founder, Aeronero Solutions

The program underscored the notion that education is a continuous journey. In a dynamic business environment marked by technological progress, shifting policies, and evolving consumer behavior, initiatives like this program play a pivotal role in remaining pertinent and achieving success. I had an exceptional experience during the program.

Rajalakshmi Iyer,
Founder, Deeproots design

The Business Growth Project (BGP) I created helped me surpass my target this year, reshaping my leadership skills, goal-setting, people management, and growth strategies. With these learnings, I aim to achieve my goals and inspire others. This wouldn’t have been possible without NSRCEL

What to Expect from the Program

FAQs

Is the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women Program free of cost?

Yes, this program is free of cost. However, selected participants must manage their travel and accommodation during the in-person classroom sessions in Bangalore.

Is classroom attendance compulsory to complete the program?

It is mandatory to attend all classroom sessions held in person in Bangalore. A minimum of 75% attendance is required to graduate from the program; failing to do so will cause the participant not to be eligible to get the course completion certificate.

What is the duration of in-person sessions?

GS10KW is a 3-month program in Bangalore divided into three modules, with one week for each module.

What are the eligibility criteria for the Goldman Sachs 10000 Women program?

Established women entrepreneurs looking for support to scale their ventures, who own or run small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and meet the following requirements: 

  • A key decision maker in senior leadership (CEO/COO/President) 
  • Owner or co-owner of the venture 
  • The business should be operational for at least one year 
  • Should be open to accessing external sources of capital to scale 
  • Must have at least three employees  
  • Annual turnover should be between ₹30 lakhs and ₹30 crore  

Should not have previously participated in Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women

Are the sessions taught by IIMB faculty?

IIMB Faculty teaches most of the classroom sessions. However, we also have external industry experts teaching some of the sessions.

Is there any dress code for the classroom sessions in campus?

The dress code is business casual.

What are the timings for the classroom sessions?

The classroom sessions are usually from 9.00 am to 5.00 pm. A detailed schedule will be shared closer to the start of the respective modules.

Will I be eligible to apply for other programs of NSRCEL while doing the Goldman Sachs 10000 Women program?

We encourage entrepreneurs to focus on one program at a time, depending on their aspirations and business stage. Therefore, please go through all the program details to identify the program that suits you best. Once you have completed a program, you can apply to another NSRCEL program if you need to.

After graduating from the program, will I be considered as an alumnus of IIM Bangalore?

No, you will be considered an alum for Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women (GS10KW) and will have the opportunity to be part of the global Community of GS10KW and the more extensive NSRCEL alums network.

What if my questions are not answered here?

Please send your queries at 10kqueries@iimb.ac.in