Navodyami
– Enabling Micro-entrepreneurs Thirve
-An Initiative
by Deshpande Foundation
The Context
Navodyami program is
one such Innovative program of Deshpande Foundation started in 2011 which is
geared to create, support and scale micro-entrepreneurship at the bottom of the
pyramid. Navodyami is the one of the few
programs running in Northwest Karnataka that combines training
micro-entrepreneurs and direct marketing
for and on behalf of micro-entrepreneurs and help them to turnaround their
turnover to about three to five times in two years time.
Navodyami Program leverages the entrepreneurial
ecosystem built by Deshpande Foundation over a decade. Dense network of
Entrepreneurs connected with Foundation and over 100 organisations working in
the field of Livelihoods and Agriculture and other area provide a wonderful
environment for micro-entrepreneurs to draw support from.
Navodyami program works to make
micro-entrepruneurship a viable proposition as a livelihood. Currently challenges
of a micro-entrepreneur venturing into an enterprise are far too many. Often times
meagre sources of income, few assets and resources, simultaneous pressure of supporting
family while stabilising an enterprise and absence of guidance makes ‘risk
taking’ for micro-entrepreneurs much more difficult than a what a large
entrepreneur faces. There are also operational difficulties involved in running
a microenterprise because of the sheer small size and scale of operation as
many micro-entrepreneurs single handedly manage their marketing, manufacturing,
production and procurement of material all. However the yet biggest obstacle still
remains is marketing for micro-entrepreneurs. Challenge is always to be able to
create space and demand in mainstreamed market among high end stable customer
base. Hence most micro-entrepreneurs are forced to sustain themselves at lower
margins and depend on few wholesalers and mediators to find market for their
products.
Navodyami Program takes on these challenges and
creates an enabling condition for those who like to turn their ideas into
action. Through award competition we attract those neo innovators and
entrepreneurs who are passionate about their enterprise but are being held up
for reasons of inadequate financial and mentorship support.
