herSTART

Pick the right route

• The current fifth edition has closed to applications. Watch the herSTART site for the next edition.
• If you are a woman who wants to invest in startups, the Angel Investment Certificate Program has applications open now, with limited seats.
• Check that your business meets the edition's ownership rule. For the fifth edition, the business must be 50% women-owned.

How applications work

• Apply through the herSTART website using the Apply Now button.
• You can submit more than one idea, but only one idea per applicant is selected.
• Applicants must be Indian citizens.

What happens after shortlisting

• Shortlisted startups attend a bootcamp. For the fifth edition it runs in virtual mode.
• Expect expert-led sessions, one-on-one mentoring and an offline programme with the cohort.

What reviewers look for

• An innovative and original idea.
• A business that is at least 50% owned by women, for the fifth edition.
• Ideas do not need to fall in a listed sector. The site says you can apply even if your idea does not belong to one of the sectors it names.

herSTART is an incubation and accelerator programme for women-led startups in India. It is run by the Gujarat University Startup and Entrepreneurship Council (GUSEC) from Ahmedabad. It is aimed at women who have an innovative idea, a prototype or an existing business and want to take it to the next stage.

How programmes work

herSTART runs in editions. Each edition picks a cohort through an application and shortlisting process. Shortlisted startups then take part in a bootcamp, expert-led sessions, one-on-one mentoring and industry connects. The fifth edition, herSTART 5.0, describes a virtual accelerator programme, a residential programme with a demo day, and an offline programme for the cohort. Its cohort members pitch to a panel of investors for feedback and funding. The herSTART site publishes the shortlisted startups for each edition.

The fourth edition was launched in October 2024 with UNICEF and SBI Mutual Funds. It focused on founders from Tier 2 and Tier 3 cities. In July 2025 it held a three-day offline accelerator at Gujarat University.

herSTART also runs an Angel Investment Certificate Program for women who want to become angel investors. It is jointly issued by herSTART and GUSEC and run with India Accelerator.

Who can apply

For the fifth edition, the business must be 50% women-owned, the idea must be innovative and original, and the applicant must be an Indian citizen. A female applicant may apply with more than one idea, but only one idea per applicant is selected.

Earlier editions used different rules. The 2021 edition asked for at least one woman as a promoter, with the primary applicant female and an Indian citizen. Check the terms of the edition you are looking at before you apply.

The Angel Investment Certificate Program is for women HNIs and ultra-HNIs, business leaders, CXOs, senior professionals and aspiring women angel investors. No prior angel investment experience is needed.

Facilities and support

The fourth edition lists mentorship, guidance and networking, up to two years of incubation support at GUSEC, access to government and private funds, a dedicated co-working space for women, cloud credits and single-window startup support. The fifth edition lists a technology resources and prototyping facility, a community of founders, and industry connects for business expansion.

The site describes access to government grants and funds. It does not say every startup receives a grant.

Scale

The fourth edition page shows the following counters: 530 women-led startups supported, 2000 jobs created by startups, 15000 women sensitised, and 85 IPR filed. These are the organisation's own figures, and the page does not date them.

Past editions

The second edition held a herSTART Summit on 8 March 2021 and closed its application window on 4 April 2021. Its bootcamp and pitching rounds followed in the spring. The third edition was inaugurated by the President of India and covered fundamentals of entrepreneurship, digital marketing, fundraising and pitch decks, and pre- and post-fundraising compliances. Both editions are closed. Their pages remain on the herSTART site for reference.

Who runs it

herSTART is an initiative of GUSEC, which operates directly within Gujarat University. GUSEC says it removes early financial and infrastructural barriers for founders. GUSEC is recognised as a nodal institute under the Technology Incubation and Development of Entrepreneurs (TIDE) scheme from MeitY. herSTART was launched in 2019. In 2022 the President of India inaugurated it as a national platform for women entrepreneurs.

Location

GUSEC is on the first floor of the Atal-Kalam Research Park Building in the Gujarat University Area, Ahmedabad, Gujarat 380009. The GUSEC site describes its location as right in the heart of the Gujarat University campus.