WE Engage - Wadhwani Liftoff: PROPEL

The WE Engage – Wadhwani Liftoff: PROPEL program is a 12-week intensive initiative designed to support women entrepreneurs whose businesses are in the early growth or scaling phase. It is run jointly by WE Hub, an initiative of the Government of Telangana and recognized as India's first state-led incubator for women, and the Wadhwani Foundation, a global non-profit that drives economic development through entrepreneurship. WE Hub has a proven record of backing women-led ventures, including facilitating a substantial recoverable grant for Huwel Lifesciences, demonstrating its commitment to fostering success.

The program's primary goal is to provide strategic access to market opportunities, diverse funding sources, and a strong professional network. While PROPEL itself does not offer a fixed funding amount, it actively connects participants with grants, seed funding, and debt financing through WE Hub's partner ecosystem. This helps entrepreneurs secure the capital they need to scale.

Participants go through a customized journey featuring co-designed modules, personalized mentorship from industry experts, and hands-on bootcamps. These elements help refine product-market fit, build scalable business models, and improve readiness to raise external funding. The program emphasizes market traction, sustainability, and strategic guidance to propel women-led businesses to their next growth milestone. The collaboration aims to boost the impact of women-led startups across India, contributing to economic growth and job creation.

• 12-week structured program for women-led startups in growth/scaling phase.
• Jointly run by WE Hub (Telangana government initiative) and the Wadhwani Foundation.
• Focus on market access, funding readiness, and network building.
• Co-designed curriculum, personalized mentorship, and hands-on bootcamps.
• Facilitates access to grants, seed funding, and debt via partner network.
• Open to all industries; urban India location required.

This program is exclusively for women-led startups. To qualify, a woman entrepreneur must hold minimum 51% ownership in the company. If the startup has previously taken funding, the woman founder must still own at least 33% equity. Alternatively, a woman entrepreneur can qualify if she holds an equal or majority stake, or serves as a CXO (CEO, CFO, COO, etc.) of the venture. These criteria ensure genuine women leadership. Applicants must be based in Urban India, and their business must be legally registered in India. The startup should be in the early growth or scaling stage and already generating revenue. Founders must be ready to raise funding, with a clear business plan and initial traction. All industries are welcome.

WE Engage - Wadhwani Liftoff: PROPEL is open to startups at any stage. It is open to startups registered anywhere in India.

The most recent application window for WE Engage - Wadhwani Liftoff: PROPEL closed on 14 May 2026. Many programmes run repeat cohorts, so it is worth checking the official site for the next round.

• A 12-week curriculum co-designed with the Wadhwani Foundation, covering product-market fit, scalable business models, and fundraising readiness.
• Strategic guidance from experts who have built and scaled successful businesses.
• Supply chain support and market-access opportunities across India.
• Investor connects and facilitation of access to grants, seed funding, and debt through WE Hub's partner network. (Note: No fixed monetary amount is guaranteed by the program itself.)

WE Engage - Wadhwani Liftoff: PROPEL is offered by WE Hub, a government body. As a government-backed grant, it is publicly funded and open to eligible startups across India. You can verify current details and timelines on the provider's official website before applying.

Applications are submitted via the WE Hub Google Form. The WE Hub and Wadhwani Foundation teams review submissions and shortlist women-led startups that are in the early growth or scaling stage, based on revenue traction, scalability of the business model, and readiness to raise funding. Shortlisted candidates may be invited for virtual interviews or pitch presentations to a panel of experts and investors. Final selections are made through a comprehensive assessment, leading to an invitation to join the 12-week cohort.

Before you apply to WE Engage - Wadhwani Liftoff: PROPEL, keep the following documents ready:

• A pitch deck or short business plan describing the problem, product and traction
• Company registration documents and PAN
• Founder identification (PAN / Aadhaar) and brief profiles
• Recent financial statements or projections
• Product details — a demo, prototype or working link if available

Exact requirements are confirmed on the official application portal — treat this as a preparation checklist.