SAP and ISB collaborate to jumpstart social enterprises

Multinational software firm SAP and the Indian School of Business (ISB) have come together to announce a collaboration that will give a fillip to the social entrepreneurship ecosystem. The partnership will identify five social enterprise start-ups who will be provided training, mentorship and access to networks to accelerate their growth.

The four month fixed term mentor-driven programme will provide identified startups access to business, academic mentors and subject experts through the Centre for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (CIE) at ISB and SAP. Start-ups will be identified through a nation-wide selection process with the involvement of the SAP, ISB and other relevant experts from the start-up eco-system.

With this initiative, SAP will expand its thought leadership to much wider segment in the entrepreneurship ecosystem. SAP will bring in expertise on go to market, technology trends, customer acquisitions, design thinking methodology among others for social enterprises under this programme.

To qualify for the programme early stage social entrepreneurs will be invited to apply and put through a selection process that will include experts from ISB, SAP and the startup eco-system. Two persons from each social enterprise will be selected to undergo the programme which will have two residency modules at ISB and one boot camp at SAP. These social enterprises will have an opportunity to present their business plans to venture capitalists and angel investors to raise funds.