Only 18 countries have no law which is discriminating in nature for women around the globe: World, Business and the Law 2016 report revealed

Women around the world have restrictions from doing certain work as they are females. This fact is visible and prevalent in around 100 countries around the world. There is atleast one discriminating law that makes discrimination against women in around 150 countries worldwide. Only 18 countries have no law which is discriminating in nature. This findings were revealed by World, Business and the Law 2016 report. It also revealed that women of 32 countries cannot apply for passports in same manner as males can apply.
The report has special mention of India introduction of quota on female representation on corporate boards which states that  at least one board member of every listed company must be a woman.

Don’t be afraid to fail or make mistakes...Says Ishita Sud, Founder and Design Head of Creative Pulp Design Studio, a design/communication start up

1)    Please introduce about yourself

I am Ishita, Founder and Design Head of Creative Pulp Design Studio, a design/communication start up.

2)    What is the motivation behind starting your venture?

After working with some of the best BTL & Digital agencies for a decade, where deadlines and long hours rule your world, there is very little time one gets for ones own self and experience life. Something, which I feel, is extremely important for a creative person to continue feeling joy in ones work. Also I saw a lot of women giving up their career in advertising once they went the family way.

All of this really inspired me to work towards aiming to create a design studio which not only provides great communication solutions to their clients but also create work opportunity for women who are passionate about graphics/content etc  and would want to continue working in the comfort of their homes or in a very informal, comfortable environment. In the last one year of our conception, we have aimed to pick up selective but interesting projects. Concentrating on quality rather than quantity. 

3)    Please provide information regarding the products/services you offer to world and state how are they beneficial for us.

In the last year of operation, we’ve had the opportunity to work with and garner the trust of some excellent teams at AIMA, FSecure, Natural Bath & Body, and MANN India. Together we’ve created effective and memorable communication ranging from websites and packaging for product launch to digital campaigns for product promotion.

4)    What are the startup challenges?

Biggest challenge is for people to respect and take our work seriously.  People wanting good quality work but not necessarily ready to pay according to what one deserve.

5)    Were there any challenges being a woman entrepreneur?

Fortunately I havnt faced any gender inequality yet. Majorly have come across clients who are superbly encouraging, though it does sometime takes a while for a few, far between to believe that one can “handle” the pressure, being a woman entrepreneur.

6)    How her family reacted on starting a business? 

Both my parents and siblings were extremely supportive. The only piece of advice my mum gave was to never work without part payment at the start of a project, which I have stuck to and has helped me tremendously.

7)    What are the future plans? 

Nurture Creative Pulp Design to become a name that represents quality communication ideas. Always create an organic service experience for our clients. And for anyone joining the team to enjoy a balanced creative environment.

8)    Any other information you want to share to world.

Don’t be afraid to fail or make mistakes. And never think that as a young woman you only have a limited time to polish your career, till you get married. If you have an idea, work on it with conviction and passion. No matter if the world thinks otherwise.

http://www.creativepulpdesign.com/

Women entrepreneurs : Focus of Angel Investors all around the globe

All around the globe funding opportunities are coming for women entrepreneurs. Angel Investors are focusing on funding women entrepreneurs so that they can flourish. Few funding avenues available are:
1) Kenya Women Investment Company:This group is operational in east and south Africa and aims at providing seed funding to women entrepreneurs
2) Kenya Women Microfinance Bank Limited (KWFT),It is institution serving only women entrepreneurs and has more than 600000 clients.
3) The Women’s Investment Fund: It is Nigeria's female focussed investment fund .It provides financial assistance to women to run their business.   
4) Women’s Investment Portfolio Holding Limited: It is company which focuses on investment for women entrepreneurs and is managed by black women in South Africa. 
5) Angel Investor Network Indonesia, ANGIN is an angel investor group focusing on promoting female entrepreneurs and empowering women to increase overall participation in the Indonesian economy 
6) Aspire: It is run by Capital for Enterprise Ltd and focuses on providing funds to women entrepreneurs whose enterprises are listed in UK. 
7) Incito Ventures: This female-focused investor network is dedicated to provide seed funding to women entrepreneurs and they also offer social impact accelerator. 
8) Investing Women: It is for women entrepreneurs who want to flourish in Scottish economy. 
9) 37 Angels: 37 Angels invests between $50K and $150K of seed capital in early-stage ventures. 
10) Astia: This innovative, global not-for-profit organization propels women’s full participation as entrepreneurs and leaders in high-growth businesses around the world. 
11) Golden Seeds: They have invested huge funds on women led enterprises. They provide venture funds after considering applications at chargeable basis. 
12) Pax World Global Women’s Equality Fund: This global equity fund seeks to grow capital over the long term by investing in the common and/or preferred stock of companies that are leaders in advancing gender equality and women’s empowerment. 
13) Pipeline Fellowship: They accepts applications from all US. 
14) Springboard Enterprises: Springboard invests in women-led, high-growth technology-oriented companies. 
15) The JumpFund:  The Jump Fund invests women’s capital in early-stage, female-led LLC or C-corporations in Chattanooga, TN or the southeast region of the U.S.
16) Women’s Donor Network: WDN members individually and collectively provide around $200 million a year to advance the movement for social change. 
17) Women’s Venture Capital Fund: It also focuses on providing investment to women entrepreneurs.

For more information visit their websites and one can read more on http://blog.girltank.org/angel-investors-looking-for-women-entrepreneurs/

WECREATE Cambodia Center: Platform for Cambodian Women Entrepreneurs to flourish

A new centre for women entrepreneurs was established in Phnom Penh which will act as platform for Cambodian Women entrepreneurs to flourish by giving them support in networking, increasing accessibility to tools and resources needed for growth and establishment of new ventures by women entrepreneurs in Cambodia.The basic aim of WE CREATE  Cambodia centre is to make female entrepreneurs visible by pushing them to formal sector so as to improve their status.WE CREATE is public-private partnership between the US State Department’s bureau of economic and business affairs and the StartUp Cup global accelerator program.

For more information visit http://www.phnompenhpost.com/business/centre-aims-bolster-women-entrepreneurship

Party time for women entrepreneurs .......Exclusive venture capital fund for women entrepreneurs

Few business veterans have teamed together to launch a venture capital fund exclusively for women entrepreneurs.Saha Fund, India's first SEBI approved venture capital fund have corpus of 100 crores and are focusing on enterprises led by women entrepreneurs.The fund would also invest in companies where women account for more than half the employee base.
Saha Fund has already made commitment for three investments including Ratan Tata-backed women's fashion wear platform Kaarya.
For more information visit : http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/now-a-venture-fund-for-women-entrepreneurs-115091400024_1.html
Saha Fund : http://www.sahafund.com/

Women entrepreneurship: Poland on a roll.....

More than one third of companies in Poland are run by women entrepreneurs.Poland is known as Europe's  most significant hub for female entrepreneurship. These business came into existence during periods of Poland’s economic transformation after the collapse of socialism in the Soviet Union and Eastern Europe.
Isabella De Maddalena,assistant photographer, Julia Wollner is editor-in-chief of La Rivista, Poland’s first magazine about the culture, lifestyle and language of Italy,Ania Chagowska, dance school owner, Maria Nowinska, designer and another hundred are the once who rule the world.....Hats off to them.
For More Information visit http://www.theglobalist.com/female-entrepreneurship-thrives-in-poland/

African women are global leaders: Credit to two women

Africa leads world in number of women taking up businesses as their career option as stated in Global Entrepreneurship Monitor 2014 Global Report.
Yasmin Belo-Osagie and Afua Osei, co-founders of She Leads Africa  explains about four key education, financing, stereotypes and limitations faced by entrepreneurs in Africa.This website was launched in May 2014 to serve as a platform to invest in Africa’s most promising female entrepreneurs.
The role and goal of co founders of She Leads Africa was to support and push female entrepreneurs of small to medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) to pan-African industry leaders.
For more information read https://atlantablackstar.com/2015/09/15/two-young-women-help-african-women-entrepreneurs-become-influential-global-leaders/

Always be positive and be independent for your own good.....says DIPIKA

1) Please introduce about yourself

I am Dipika, Founder and Design head in Dipustaika, an online design studio, with clients worldwide.

2) What is the motivation behind starting your venture?

My interest for design and a motive to be independent, made me start Dipustaika, and slowly started growing along with it.

3) Please provide information regarding the products/services you offer to the world and state how are they beneficial for us. 

Dipustaika provides all kinds of Design solutions. We have been constantly diversifying into different categories, like Womens wear, Mens  wear, Kids wear, Active wear, Maternity wear, Islamic clothing, Justborn baby clothing, Technical design, T shirt illustrations, Fashion illustrations, Fashion calendar conceptual designs, Fashion editor, Content writer, logo and identity design, Subject Matter Expert(SME), Hand bag design, Camera bag design, Cap designs, Infographics, graphics, webpage layout design,... Dipustaika has always supported non profit organizations on women empowerment, education for youth and poverty through design.

4). What are the startup challenges? 

I happened to work on projects and not get paid in the initial stages. 

5). Were there any challenges being a woman entrepreneur?

Fortunately Not yet facing gender inequality, maybe I am getting good people around me.

6) How her family reacted on starting a business? 

My parents and brother were very supportive

7) What are the future plans? 

Launch a clothing collection under Dipustaika which is a registered brand

8) Any other information you want to share with the world.

Always be positive and be independent for your own good.

http://dipustaika.blogspot.in/ 

https://www.behance.net/Dipustaika

https://www.linkedin.com/in/dipustaika

https://www.facebook.com/dipustaikabrand

Women in itself is powerful to do what is right for her and to the society says Suman Sethi ,proprietor of DEE ESS ENTERPRISES

1) Please introduce about yourself.

   

        I am Suman Sethi, The proprietor of DEE ESS ENTERPRISES situated in Dehradun.

After my husband passed away in 2010, I started this firm when everyone was against my decision.We started manufacturing sleeping bags, laptop bags, rucksack, knapsack and all army and college bags. I started with two people and today we have a workforce of 10 people. My family comprises of me and my daughter. My daughter is a Game Developer working in a reputed company in Dehradun itself as well she helps me in all the company matters. I single handedly managed her studies as well as my business functioning.

2) What is the motivation behind starting your venture?

        

        After the mishap there was no one to take our responsibility and who can fulfill our basics needs.

So some day I discovered that my husband was thinking of starting this business and he also collected machines as well as raw materials. What motivated me the most was to make my daughter professionally educated and independent.

3) Please provide information regarding the products/services you offer to world and state how are they beneficial for us. 

    We have workers from backward area giving them employment and benefits I am capable of providing them. We manufacture sleeping bags,rucksack and all army bags with the best quality for their comfort and for easy carrying.

4). What are the startup challenges? 

     As I was only a 12th grade pass women so I didn't know about who-what-how of the business. But my daughter's motivation and help was a boon. I started meeting the clients with whom my husband was in contact with. Learnt from them of how the manufacturing is done and all the workers supported me by giving their day-night to the work.In the first year of manufacturing I suffered a great loss. But gradually I expanded my knowledge and explored in the market for profit.

5). Were there any challenges being a woman entrepreneur?

     

      Being a women, I had a whole burden on my shoulder to execute things forward.From being a house-wife to now , I have to go through family pressure and also the society that this business is not for females and I won't be able to cope up with the new technologies , machines as well as manufacturing terminologies. With my daughter who on every step supported as well as guidance made me who I am. Business is not so difficult if we get right person at the right time.Many times,through clients and people who meant more than just business.But taking my dignity and confidence I made my way through.

6) How her family reacted on starting a business? 

    

     My family was at first denying to start this as they were not confident on me.My brother said that you don't have to do business we will be there to support you.These thing and matters cannot be handled by a women.What will other people say? were the words. But I had made my mind that it's a do or die situation and anyhow I have to take it forward.

7) What are the future plans ? 

   

    My future plans are providing quality services to army cantonments and helping other backward workers, so as to train them in bag making skills and giving employment to both men and women. Also my daughter has joined hands ,so we will be launching our online store to serve people all around India and maybe overseas.

8) Any other information you want to share to world.

  

    I would want to quote that , Women in itself is powerful to do what is right for her and to the society.