"We want the differently abled to be independent. Therefore, we have devised a solution wherein they can use computers and other household appliances with the movement of their eyes alone. Here, eyes of the person act as a curser and can navigate on the screen to operate the computer or switch on lights, fans, and the air conditioner," said Rehnuma Sodawala, co-founder of Skynet ComputeRonix, a start-up based out of Bharuch. She was one of the 100 odd participants at the first of its kind, two-day women-only bootcamp at the Gujarat University Student Entrepreneurship Council (GUSEC).

"We have found that women constitute not more than 20 per cent of founders in start-ups. We want to increase their share in the start-up ecosystem. We will organise more programmes like this," said Prashant Halari, president of Ahmedabad chapter of The Indus Entrepreneurs (TiE) — the co-organiser of the event that exposed women founders and co-founders to various aspects of building a successful start-up.

Manveen Kaur from Vadodara makes Do It Yourself (DIY) kits for housewives to bring in skill in traditional arts like Lippan, block printing, Batik, and Bandhani among others. She wants to develop a mobile app and is looking for support in digital marketing and in availing government schemes. Another participant Tejashri Anchan from Mumbai, co-founder of Nirmisu, which plans to print traditional art forms on t-shirts, said, " The youth is drifting away from traditional art. We would like to give these a new platform and propagate them."

Kruti Urs pursued her entrepreneurship dreams after beating cancer. She is now working on custom-made formals and home delivers them to working women. "Working women face three main problems for formal outfits. There are improper fits, no customisation in fashion, multiple trials in case of physical shopping and exchange and return cycle in case of online shopping," she said adding that she is looking for funding for technological development.

"The turnout of women for the bootcamp was beyond our expectation. Next time, we plan to do it at a larger scale," said Rahul Bhagchandani, CEO of GUSEC.

Numbers

• 652 applicants
• 110 shortlisted about 100 participated
• Rs 10 lakh worth of prizes

The Sessions

Why start-ups fail, productivity tools, legal compliances, brand building, marketing and sales, IPR, and government policy on start-ups