Despite of improved entry into entrepreneurship, many women-owned MSMEs encounter significant challenges including limited access to structured mentorship, growth-focused capabilities and enabling business ecosystems. Often, this results in growth plateauing after initial success.
Recognizing this persistent gap, Godrej Capital launched Aarohi, a 17-month program aimed at strengthening the growth journey of medium-sized women entrepreneurs in Mumbai and Bangalore. The program engaged 148 women entrepreneurs aiming to enable at least 70% of participants to achieve a minimum 20% increase in business revenue, while simultaneously enhancing business resilience and employment potential.
The program focused on empowering women entrepreneurs who had already established businesses but required structured intervention to unlock their next growth phase. The program adopted a blended capacity-building approach, integrating online and offline workshops, one-on-one mentorship and self-paced e-learning modules, which ensured that participants could directly apply their learnings to real-time business challenges without disrupting daily operations.
The training modules addressed critical growth drivers such as financial management, market expansion strategies, customer acquisition, governance frameworks, digital adoption and leadership development. By equipping entrepreneurs with practical tools and strategic insights, the program enabled participants to build stronger business foundations and improve decision-making capabilities.
Employee Participation
An integral strength of the initiative was the active involvement of Godrej Capital employees, who contributed as trainers and mentors. This not only strengthened cross-functional engagement within the organization but also created a meaningful platform for purpose-led volunteering. The interaction between corporate professionals and entrepreneurs facilitated knowledge exchange, fostered confidence among participants and strengthened the overall support ecosystem.
The program achieved remarkable outcomes that demonstrate the potential of structured and long-term entrepreneurial support. Approximately 89% of participating women entrepreneurs adopted improved business practices, reflecting enhanced operational efficiency and strategic clarity. Notably, 76% of participants recorded more than 20% growth in business revenue, exceeding the program’s original target. These outcomes underline the importance of providing targeted capability-building interventions rather than short-term assistance.
Beyond financial growth, the initiative generated substantial social impact through employment creation. Participating enterprises collectively generated 242 employment opportunities, with several businesses expanding their workforce or stabilizing existing jobs as their revenues and operational capacities strengthened.
Credit Access
Access to formal credit remains a major barrier for many women entrepreneurs. At the beginning of the program, several participants faced challenges in accessing structured financial support due to limited financial documentation, lack of credit history or restricted awareness of formal lending processes. Through financial literacy training and mentorship, the program supported entrepreneurs to strengthen their financial profiles. As a result, two participating women-owned businesses successfully secured credit from formal financial institutions following the program’s intervention.
The broader impact of the initiative lies in its systemic approach. Instead of addressing immediate business concerns, the program focused on removing structural growth barriers that often hinder women entrepreneurs. By strengthening business capabilities, enabling market expansion and improving financial readiness, the initiative empowered women entrepreneurs to scale sustainably and build resilient enterprises.
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