TN Rise

Transforming Rural Ideas into Confident Entrepreneurial Voices 🌱

TN-RISE organized an Entrepreneurship Bootcamp in Madurai, bringing together aspiring entrepreneurs from Madurai, Dindigul, and Theni districts. The programme witnessed the enthusiastic participation of 230+ entrepreneurs, out of which 91 entrepreneurs were shortlisted for the final selection process. Taking this journey forward, TN-RISE conducted a capacity building prpgramme on Pitching Skills on 09th March 2026, simultaneously in Madurai and Dindigul, with shortlisted entrepreneurs.

The training was inaugurated by Mr. Jagan Kumar, Project Lead – Enterprise Development & Formalization, TN-RISE, who emphasized the importance of structured business thinking and effective communication in presenting entrepreneurial ideas.

🔹 Madurai Session
Mr. Baskar Perumal guided entrepreneurs in developing Business Model Canvases (BMC) and crafting compelling pitch decks to clearly communicate their business ideas.

🔹 Dindigul Session
Mr. M. Prasannakumar facilitated an interactive session on structuring business ideas using BMC and given a hands-on training on preparing pitch decks.

Through these sessions, entrepreneurs were able to refine their ideas, strengthen their business narratives, and build the confidence needed to pitch their ventures effectively. Pitching is no longer new to rural women entrepreneurs; they are now confidently articulating their ideas and stepping forward as business leaders.

TN-RISE continues to support entrepreneurs across Tamil Nadu by nurturing grassroots innovation and enabling rural entrepreneurs to transform ideas into scalable enterprises. 🚀

𝗧𝗡-𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗘 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 | 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝗽𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀

The two-day workshop on “Social Media and Marketplaces for Business Growth” concluded with an inspiring outcome — entrepreneurs not only learning digital tools but actively implementing them.

Building on the strong foundation created on Day 1, the second day focused on practical ex*****on and digital growth strategies. Participants refined their social media profiles, strengthened their brand presence across platforms, and most importantly, launched their own Meta advertisements for their businesses.

For many entrepreneurs from rural regions, this was the first time their products and services were promoted through digital campaigns. The analytics shared in the attached screenshots reflect the initial reach, engagement, and responses generated through these ads. 📈

What stood out during the workshop was the confidence with which entrepreneurs experimented with these tools — asking questions, testing campaigns, and exploring how digital platforms can expand their market reach beyond geographical boundaries.

A heartfelt gratitude to the trainers Mr Mohammed Ilias, Mr. Sushil Athithiyaa, Mr.Lakshmi Narasimman, Mr. Mohamad Eshan, Mr. SHA ROOK J, Mr. Subbash D J, and Ms. Usha Lakshmanan and Andhra Chamber of Commerce for delivering highly engaging sessions and patiently addressing the entrepreneurs’ questions and doubts throughout the workshop.

Moments like these remind us that digital transformation is not just about technology — it is about entrepreneurs from small towns and rural corners of the state confidently stepping into digital markets. 🚀

This workshop may have ended, but their digital journey has just begun. ✨

𝗧𝗡-𝗥𝗜𝗦𝗘 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝗸𝘀𝗵𝗼𝗽 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀 | 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗠𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁 𝗣𝗹𝗮𝗰𝗲𝘀
When we opened the "Social Media and Marketplaces for Business Growth" workshop yesterday, we didn't just see 30 participants; we saw 30 stories of ambition from our Tier 2 and Tier 3 regions.🌱✨

The session was inaugurated in the inspiring presence of Tmt. SHAJEEVANA R V ., IAS (MD, TN-RISE), Tmt. Asha Ajith ., IAS (COO, TNRTP), Thiru. M K Anand and Tmt. Vijayalakshmi R (Secretary General, Andhra Chamber of Commerce). Their addresses highlighted a powerful message — digital platforms today provide unprecedented opportunities for rural enterprises to scale, connect with customers, and compete in larger markets.🌍📈

Under the practical guidance of Mr. Mohammed Ilias, Mr. Mohamad Eshan, Mr. SHA ROOK J, Mr. Subbash D J, and Ms. Usha Lakshmanan, the workshop moved beyond theory into hands-on learning. Entrepreneurs actively set up their professional WhatsApp Business accounts, explored CRM tools for customer management, and launched their first Meta advertisements.

Watching entrepreneurs from smaller towns confidently publish their first digital campaigns was a powerful reminder that technology can truly level the playing field for MSMEs, making geography far less of a barrier to market access. 🌐🤝

The focus of Day 1 was on building a strong digital foundation for businesses. Day 2 will move towards optimizing these platforms and using them strategically for long-term business growth. 📊🚀

The digital transformation of Tamil Nadu’s MSMEs is clearly underway, driven by the determination and persistence of entrepreneurs from every corner of the state. 💼

𝑺𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒈𝒕𝒉𝒆𝒏𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝑳𝒂𝒔𝒕 𝒎𝒊𝒍𝒆 𝑬𝒏𝒕𝒓𝒆𝒑𝒓𝒆𝒏𝒆𝒖𝒓𝒊𝒂𝒍 𝑬𝒄𝒐𝒔𝒚𝒔𝒕𝒆𝒎🚀

Stronger ecosystems are built on collaboration, and at TN-RISE, we believe the key to unlocking entrepreneurship lies in seamless district-level convergence.

Recently, we had the privilege of conducting an orientation session for the District Programme Managers (DPMs) of EDII-TN. Our Project Lead(EDF), Mr. Jagan Kumar, led the session, deep-diving into the suite of services TN-RISE offers to empower entrepreneurs across Tamil Nadu.

By aligning our goals with EDII-TN’s district leaders, we ensure that every entrepreneur gets consistent and high-quality guidance. Better convergence means fewer hurdles for startups and more streamlined access to incubation, mentorship, and funding.

A big thank you to the EDII-TN team for their proactive engagement.

Together, we are cultivating a resilient and inclusive startup ecosystem that reaches every corner of Tamil Nadu! 🤝💼

Bridging the Gap from "Good Ideas" to Great Businesses 📉🚀

On behalf of TN-RISE Women Startup Council, Arun G , Project Manager, PDII took centre stage at Kongu Engineering College’s ! The energy within the Maharaja Auditorium was truly electric, filled with the next generation of visionary entrepreneurs. ⚡

While innovation is at the heart of what we do, we dived deep into a hard truth: 90% of startups fail. 🚫It’s rarely due to a lack of "good ideas." Most often, founders fall into the or struggle to navigate the infamous . 🏜️ At TN-RISE, our mission is to ensure women entrepreneurs have the robust digital infrastructure and strategic support needed to bridge this gap.

Key Takeaways from the Forum:
• Market Mastery over Innovation: Moving beyond simple problem identification to solving challenges the market is actually willing to pay for 💡💰.
• Sustainable Growth: Building scalable, secure, and data-driven businesses that can survive the early-stage hurdles.

A sincere thank you to Tmt. Shajeevana R.V. madam and Tmt. Asha Ajith, IAS, Madam for their leadership and for providing the opportunity to address the Future Entrepreneurs Forum. 🤝
Special thanks to the IIC KEC and the Kongu Engineering College team for the invitation and for providing a platform to share the TN-RISE vision for a digitally empowered startup ecosystem.

TN-RISE Women Startup Council team , recently visited Villgro to explore potential avenues for collaboration aimed at strengthening support for women-led startups.

The interaction focused on leveraging Villgro’s extensive experience in social enterprise incubation, particularly in areas of technical expertise, structured mentoring support, market access facilitation, and CSR partnerships. Discussions also covered opportunities for enabling women entrepreneurs through innovation validation, pilot deployment support, investor and ecosystem connects, and capacity-building programs.

The visit provided valuable insights into building scalable, impact-driven ventures and opened pathways for collaborative initiatives that can accelerate innovation and sustainable entrepreneurship among women founders.
We look forward to meaningful partnerships that empower women entrepreneurs to create impactful and inclusive solutions.

𝐓𝐍-𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐄 𝐚𝐭 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐃𝐍𝐁 𝐕𝐚𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐧𝐚𝐯 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐒𝐮𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐭: 𝐀 𝐂𝐚𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐲𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧

At TNRISE, we believne that when you empower a woman entrepreneur, you ignite a catalyst for societal transformation.

Mr. Jagan Kumar, Project Lead, heading the vertical "Enterprises Development and Formalization" recently represented our team at the Women Summit organized by SDNB Vaishnav College, Chennai, marking the 125th birth anniversary of Shri Nanalal Bhatt.

The summit offered profound wisdom from visionary leaders like Preethaa Ganesh (VP – Vels Group of Institutions), who emphasized that financial independence through education builds true self-confidence and that empowering oneself is the essential first step to empowering others. We also drew immense inspiration from Ranjini Manian (Founder – Global Adjustments), whose journey from Matunga to Sorbonne University serves as a masterclass in preparation; her mantra to "Dream with a deadline" and "Dare to do your best" reminds us that destiny is shaped through consistent, disciplined effort.

We extend our sincere gratitude to Mrs. Mamta D. Bhatt (Chairman, SDNB Vaishnav College) for the kind invitation.

TNRISE is committed to providing the institutional support, branding, market linkage, and financial support necessary to turn women-led enterprises into lasting legacies of empowerment across Tamil Nadu.

As part of its ongoing ecosystem engagement initiatives, the TN-RISE Women Startup Council – Product Development & Innovation Vertical conducted incubation visits to multiple innovation and livelihood-focused institutions to explore collaborative opportunities that strengthen support systems for women entrepreneurs.

The team visited the ABIS-TBI TNAU, which offers specialised infrastructure including food processing facilities and mushroom production units, along with mentoring and funding support for agri- and food-based startups.

At SREC SPARK INCUBATION FOUNDATION, discussions focused on leveraging the Centre of Excellence in Industrial Automation and skill development initiatives, including honey production, to enable technology-driven and livelihood-based enterprises.

The visit to Cultiv8 (CIET - TBI) highlighted opportunities in livelihood promotion and value addition, supported through mentoring and shared infrastructure.

Additionally, interactions at PSG College of Arts and Science explored collaboration through their food processing and manufacturing units to support product development and market-ready solutions for women-led ventures.

These ecosystem connect visits reinforce TN-RISE’s commitment to building strong institutional partnerships that provide women entrepreneurs access to infrastructure, technical expertise, and innovation-driven incubation pathways, enabling sustainable enterprise growth across Tamil Nadu.

Continuing its efforts to strengthen the innovation ecosystem for women-led enterprises, the TN-RISE Women Startup Council – Product Development & Innovation Vertical visited the AIC Raise Business Incubator, Rathinam Techzone, Eachanari, Coimbatore on 27.02.2026.

The visit enabled engaging discussions on fostering collaboration to support women entrepreneurs through structured incubation, startup acceleration, innovation mentorship, and market-oriented product development. The team explored opportunities for providing women-led startups access to expert networks, technology resources, and ecosystem linkages that can enhance scalability and business sustainability.

Such ecosystem engagement visits reinforce TN-RISE’s commitment to creating strong institutional partnerships that nurture innovation, enable knowledge exchange, and empower women entrepreneurs to build impactful and growth-driven ventures across Tamil Nadu.

As part of its mission to expand innovation-led opportunities for women entrepreneurs, the TN-RISE Women Startup Council – Product Development & Innovation Vertical conducted an incubation ecosystem visit to the NGI Technology Business Incubator, Thirumalayampalayam, Coimbatore, on 27.02.2026.

The interaction provided valuable insights into NGI TBI’s incubation framework, technology-driven support systems, and facilities that enable startups to transform ideas into viable products.

The visit focused on identifying collaboration pathways to support women-led enterprises through technical guidance, innovation mentoring, prototype development, and structured incubation engagement.

Through such ecosystem connect initiatives, TN-RISE aims to bridge women entrepreneurs with advanced institutional resources, fostering innovation, entrepreneurship, and sustainable startup growth across the region.

We look forward to building a strong partnership that empowers more women innovators to scale their ventures successfully.

𝐅𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐀𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐀𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: 𝐓𝐍-𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐄 𝐖𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐧 𝐄𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐮𝐫𝐬 𝐒𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐄𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐭 🚀

TN-RISE successfully conducted its Women Entrepreneurs Screening Event on 23 February 2026 at the TN-RISE Office, Guindy, Chennai—bringing together a vibrant group of passionate and determined women founders from across Tamil Nadu.

The session was inaugurated by Ms. Asha Ajith, IAS, COO (PM), TNRTP, whose encouraging words reaffirmed the Government’s commitment to nurturing women-led enterprises and enabling them to scale with confidence.

The event reflected the confidence, resilience, and entrepreneurial spirit of women who are building businesses, creating livelihoods, and contributing to Tamil Nadu’s economic growth. Each interaction was a reminder that every enterprise—regardless of stage—holds the potential to grow with the right mentorship and ecosystem support.

At TN-RISE, our mission is not only to screen—but to support, mentor, and empower women entrepreneurs at every step of their journey. We deeply appreciate the enthusiastic participation and look forward to walking alongside these founders as they build sustainable and impactful enterprises.

✨ When women rise, communities thrive. TN-RISE stands committed to enabling that rise. ✨