The Indian Institutes of Management at Ahmedabad and Lucknow have been named new academic partners in Goldman Sachs’ global 10,000 Women initiative, a program empowering women entrepreneurs with business education, mentorship, and access to capital. The move significantly expands the initiative’s footprint in India, complementing its ongoing collaboration with IIM Bangalore’s NSRCEL.

Goldman Sachs has announced ambitious plans to graduate 1,000 women entrepreneurs in India over the next year, scaling up from the current 3,800 participants, and targeting 10,000 by 2033. The expansion aligns with India’s “Viksit Bharat 2047” vision, which underscores the role of women entrepreneurs in driving economic growth and development.

The programme provides women entrepreneurs with in-depth management training, mentorship, and exposure to global business networks. IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Lucknow will deliver in-person courses alongside IIM Bangalore, tackling structural barriers women face, especially in accessing capital and professional networks. The curriculum is also available online in English and Hindi via Coursera, ensuring wider accessibility.

Impact data from India underscores the programme’s effectiveness: participants have, on average, quadrupled their revenues and doubled their workforce shortly after completing the course. Collectively, graduates have created over 12,000 new jobs, significantly contributing to the economy. Furthermore, nine out of ten participants mentor other women entrepreneurs, fostering further employment opportunities and business growth.

Goldman Sachs’ India Womenomics research highlights that India, with its favourable demographics, could unlock substantial economic gains if more women enter the workforce. Current female labour force participation remains below global benchmarks, making initiatives like 10,000 Women critical for long-term economic growth.

Launched in 2008, Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women has reached over 320,000 women entrepreneurs in 150+ countries. In partnership with the International Finance Corporation, it has facilitated over US$3.1 billion in investments for women in emerging markets, including India, where the programme is implemented in collaboration with IIM Ahmedabad, IIM Lucknow, and IIM Bangalore.