By Eleanor Reader
SAP has announced a three-year partnership with National Entrepreneur Network (NEN) to create a mentoring platform which aims to help entrepreneurs in India grow their business.
SAP has committed 335,000 euros to NEN as part of their “new emerging mentoring initiative”.
As part of the program, SAP and NEN will train 30 mentors across India who will be responsible for supporting 300 emerging entrepreneurs across the country. SAP experts will be on hand to assist entrepreneurs with their specific technology requirements.
Five entrepreneurs from the program will then be selected to receive access to innovation grants, mentors and technology support from SAP based on criteria including a proven business model, focus on innovation and social impact, and a propensity to scale with technology.
“Today’s entrepreneurs are the bedrock of tomorrow’s economy,” said Bill McDermott, co-CEO, SAP. “With this initiative, SAP is making a clear commitment to invest in their long-term future by providing talent, technology and capital.”
The partnership is one way SAP is tackling the skills shortage, with the company saying an increase in entrepreneurship will provide career opportunities for the unemployed as well as the young people who will join the workforce.
“High-potential entrepreneurs are critical for India to create the tens of millions of jobs it needs over the next decade,” said K. Srikrishna, executive director, NEN.
“The bulk of this challenge falls on countries in the developing world including India and Brazil,” said Sunder Madakshira, vice president, marketing and communications, SAP Labs India.
