Goldman Sachs has announced a significant expansion of its global 10,000 Women initiative in India, unveiling new partnerships with the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad and the Indian Institute of Management Lucknow Enterprise Incubation Centre.
The expansion aims to equip more women entrepreneurs with the skills, mentorship and networks required to scale their ventures. It builds on the initiative’s long-standing presence in India and marks a fresh commitment to strengthen women-led enterprises across the country.
Launched as a global programme, Goldman Sachs 10,000 Women provides women business leaders with training, access to professional networks, and pathways to capital, with the goal of advancing inclusive economic growth.
According to a press release, the new tie-ups with IIM Ahmedabad and IIM Lucknow Enterprise Incubation Centre join existing academic partner IIM Bangalore – NSRCEL. Together, these institutions will work to graduate 1,000 women entrepreneurs in India within the next year. The initiative also intends to grow its current overall intake of about 3,800 participants to 10,000 by 2033.
Sonjoy Chatterjee, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Goldman Sachs’ business in India, highlighted the scale of the move. He said: “We are doubling our commitment to women entrepreneurs in India. Widening our partnership with India’s premier business schools will drive a powerful combination of education, mentorship, and networks for these entrepreneurs. They will become pillars of India’s growth.”
The expansion is aligned with India’s national vision of “Viksit Bharat 2047”, which seeks to transform the country into a developed nation by its centenary of independence. Goldman Sachs said the initiative would directly support this ambition by unlocking the potential of women business leaders to contribute to the economy.
Professor Bharat Bhasker, Director of IIM Ahmedabad, welcomed the partnership and pointed to the barriers faced by women in business. He said: “This collaboration with Goldman Sachs helps address the critical structural barriers that women entrepreneurs face, particularly in accessing capital and professional networks. By combining our academic expertise with the global reach of the initiative, we can further strengthen an ecosystem of women entrepreneurs, fostering innovation, driving growth, and empowering women to scale their businesses and become leaders in the Indian economy. Together, we aim to shape a future where women thrive as key contributors to the economy.”
Goldman Sachs’ “India Womenomics” research was also referenced in the release. The report notes that over the next two decades, India is well placed to benefit from favourable demographics. However, it stresses that in order to capture this opportunity, the country must create more employment opportunities for women and increase its female labour force participation rate, which currently trails behind other leading economies.
Professor MP Gupta, Director of IIM Lucknow, echoed this point, emphasising the wider social and economic effects of female entrepreneurship. He said: “Promoting female entrepreneurship in India is not just about breaking down barriers but creating a ripple effect that inspires entrepreneurs for generations to come, bolstering the impact and contribution women can have to the economy while driving positive change in society. The association between IIM Lucknow Enterprise Incubation Centre and Goldman Sachs is committed to boosting women entrepreneurship through this uniquely targeted initiative. The initiative will contribute to dismantling barriers and establishing a supportive ecosystem where women-led ventures can flourish, scale and inspire.”
Goldman Sachs’ 10,000 Women has already made significant progress in India, with thousands of women entrepreneurs participating since the programme was first introduced. With the addition of two more IIM partners, the initiative now has a nationwide reach through three of India’s most prominent management institutions.
By expanding the programme, Goldman Sachs aims not only to develop a new generation of women entrepreneurs but also to contribute directly to the country’s long-term growth strategy. The initiative’s backers argue that empowering women in business will help India capture its demographic dividend, create jobs and build a more inclusive economy.
