A two-day investor conclave entitled ‘Rising Women: A Women First Founder’ was hosted with women leaders and stakeholders at the American Center in Kolkata on March 14-15, 2024, to celebrate WomenHistoryMonth.

The conclave attracted a diverse array of participants, including women leaders, stakeholders, entrepreneurs, investors, and experts from India, Nepal, Bangladesh, and the United States. AMMACHI Labs Senior Researcher and Assistant Professor, Gayathri Manikutty attended as a guest speaker of the event.

The theme on the first day was ‘InvestInHerBusiness’ where discussions were centered around the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in accessing funding and financial services. They also explored strategies to overcome barriers such as unconscious bias, risk aversion, and lack of awareness. Leaders, investors and experts discussed when and how to raise capital for business, how innovation can lead to progress and how to utilize networks to grow business.

Gayathri Manikutty spoke about realizing the G20 recommendations for women-led businesses- the road ahead.

The second day’s theme was ‘InvestInHerSkills’. Among the topics discussed were the importance of education and skill development in enhancing women’s leadership at work and expanding their participation in emerging sectors such as Industry 4.0. Stakeholders discussed ways to strengthen women’s leadership, promote awareness of opportunities in STEM fields, and facilitate capacity building in 21st-century skills.