From an early age, Sheelu Sewani harbored dreams of entrepreneurship. Growing up, she helped her father manage a humble candy shop in Baljeet Nagar, Delhi, gaining insights into the workings of a small business. After earning her degree from Delhi University in 2021, Sewani decided it was time to take the plunge. She set up a small clothing shop next to her father’s candy store.
Few months into her new venture, Sewani discovered Project REVIVE, a Microsoft-supported digital and financial literacy training program in partnership with the Collective Good Foundation. Designed specifically for small women entrepreneurs, the program aimed to improve their economic success. The comprehensive training covered bookkeeping, digital payments, social media, online marketing, and financial management—exactly what Sewani needed to elevate her business.
Today, she proudly owns a thriving clothing store aptly named “The Happiness Fashion,” generating monthly profits of approximately INR 1 lakh (USD 1,200).
“Project REVIVE provided me with the essential tools and training to boost my social media presence and grow my customer base through digital platforms, significantly enhancing my business,” says the 27-year-old entrepreneur, who is also pursuing a master’s degree in library science.
In Nahira village, nestled in Assam’s Kamrup district, Jyotshna Kalita, who learnt the art of weaving from her mother at the tender age of 14, transformed her skill into a thriving livelihood. This was possible due to the intervention of Antaran Artisan Connect—an initiative by Tata Trusts in collaboration with Microsoft.
Embracing the Charkha to Market (C2M) philosophy, this initiative provides access to an online knowledge center offering training in design, business strategies, digital markets, social media, and networking. Today, under the brand “Aalok Handlooms,” a name symbolizing her journey from the shadows of economic uncertainty into the radiant phase of her life, Kalita, along with her two sisters-in-law, enjoys a substantial five-figure monthly income. Her exquisite creations have garnered admiration from shoppers both online and offline.
Project REVIVE and Antaran Artisan Connect are both initiatives under Microsoft’s Women in Digital Business (WIDB) umbrella. Project REVIVE aims to revive women-owned small and medium enterprises affected by the pandemic. Antaran is focused on empowering young weavers to sustainably earn a living through traditional practices, preventing migration to urban areas for low-wage jobs. Microsoft supports women, be it owners of small businesses or traditional artisans, to improve their livelihoods and make them sustainable and marketable through digital skills. Since July 2023, the focus of the initiative has widened to make these women ready for an AI-enabled economy. WIDB, launched in July 2022, aims to equip 30,000 women entrepreneurs with essential digital skills for sustainable livelihoods. Through skills-gap analysis, it designs tailored digital skills curricula based on Microsoft’s content and implements a train-the-trainer program. Project REVIVE and Antaran support WIDB by integrating modules on digital safety, AI, automation, and data management. WIDB also connects women entrepreneurs with public market platforms like the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) and to formal training from the International Labour Organization (ILO).
Microsoft’s partnership with Project REVIVE to create sustainable livelihoods
42-year-old Rekha from Delhi’s Faridpuri slum, was widowed during the COVID-19 pandemic. With a firm resolve, she confronted challenges with courage, motivated by the aspiration to offer her children a better future. Project REVIVE arrived at this crucial juncture in Rekha’s life helping her learn the art of sewing and establishing her own shop in the basement of her home. Empowered by returnable grants provided by the program, she invested in raw materials and embraced digital tools to expand her business reach. Today, Rekha’s clothing venture yields a monthly profit ranging from INR 15,000 to INR 20,000 (USD 180 to USD 190).
Microsoft’s digital productivity training program, imparted by Project REVIVE, has been instrumental in Rekha’s journey. It has enabled her to connect with more customers in her neighborhood through an attractive online product catalog. Moreover, she manages her finances digitally, utilizing online banking services, and has secured her future by enrolling in government schemes like the Ayushman Bharat Health Account (ABHA) for access to India’s digital healthcare ecosystem, and e-SHRAM, a national database for unorganized workers.
Microsoft’s partnership with Antaran, weaving dreams across India’s rural landscape
Antaran’s core mission is to revitalize the handloom sector, providing a sustainable livelihood and stemming the decline among weavers, especially the younger generation. The initiative aims to establish 300 micro-enterprises, led by entrepreneurs involved in every aspect of the value chain, covering pre-, on-, and post-loom activities.
The approach unfolds in three phases: initially, artisans receive technical training to enhance their craft management skills; in the second phase, they learn design principles, color theory, composition, and product range expansion through training and an online knowledge center; the third phase focuses on leveraging digital tools for outreach and income, empowering artisans to establish a social media presence and use messaging apps for global orders. Antaran integrates a textile design and research component targeting pre- and post-loom ecosystems, co-design collaborations, and digital market access in handloom clusters across various regions. Artisans showcase their products at curated exhibitions in major cities as well as Microsoft and partner offices in India.
Developing a supportive ecosystem for women entrepreneurs and artisans
Microsoft’s intervention in the WIDB initiative, included funding, curriculum development for digital and financial literacy, provision of digital design and sampling resources, and creation of digital assets and knowledge centers in local languages for scalability. Partnership with Microsoft facilitated easy availability of tools like Microsoft 365 and Outlook Lite to the women artisans and entrepreneurs, while leveraging platforms like ONDC to expand market opportunities for small businesses. Additionally, Microsoft facilitated access to knowledge and experts through partnerships with organizations such as ILO, equipping women entrepreneurs with insights into market trends and regulatory requirements, empowering them to navigate complex landscapes effectively.
This comprehensive support system ensures participants are equipped to thrive and grow, transforming the entrepreneurial landscape for women across India. Success stories like those of Sheelu, Jyotshna, and Rekha underscore the tangible impact of empowering aspiring entrepreneurs with the right tools, skills, and opportunities. Despite challenges, these women have seized the chance to achieve self-reliance, opening doors to a world of possibilities and charting a course to independence.
Top image: Jyotshna Kalita working on her loom. Photo by Inderjeet Singh for Microsoft.