An award for women entrepreneurs operating from home

Homepreneur has received applications from over 400 women in the State; select few to receive mentoring and funding support from investors

Homepreneur, a forum started recently by a group of entrepreneurs, angel investors and educationalists, is inviting applications from women who are doing business from home.

“We want to recognise women doing business from home and honour them. We will be giving them awards under various categories and also shortlist a few of them for mentoring and funding support. They can register for the awards on www.homepreneurawards. com or www.suyasakthi.com ,” said L. Hemachandran, founder CEO, Brand Avatar. More than 400 women entrepreneurs have already applied for the awards from across the State.

Actor Karthi Sivakumar, who launched the Homepreneur awards along with actor Suhasini Maniratnam, said such projects need to reach out to the routinely neglected rural pockets of Tamil Nadu.

Suhasini an activist for women empowerment, said women had always been into business even during early years. She encouraged more women to come forward and participate in such ventures.

Sivarajah Ramanathan, founding member, Native Lead Foundation, suggested that an angel network focussed on women be formed in Chennai. He added that projects like these would further benefit women, as only 5% of business ventures started by women are being aided.

C.K. Kumaravel, co-founder of Naturals Salon and Spa, said the award would encourage more women to take up entrepreneurship.

A research by Brand Avatar team with a sample size of 300 homepreneurs indicated that 70% of women said they were earning to be self-sufficient, while 20% said it was to support family. The study also showed that 60% of them invested their revenue back in business.

The last day for filling up the form is July 11.