With women leading the way, Entrepreneurs' Guild exhibition lights up Guwahati

Guwahati: The Entrepreneurs' Guild kicked off its maiden event, a two-day pop-up exhibition cum sale at 'De Kav' restaurant in Guwahati from December 28-29 to foster an entrepreneurial spirit, innovation, and empower women-led ventures in the Northeast.

Founded by three visionary women, Barasha Dutta, Kaveri Banikya, and Nilakshi Sharma, the Entrepreneurs' Guild began with a desire to become a catalyst for change in the Northeast Indian business landscape. It recognizes the scarcity of major entrepreneur committees in Assam and neighboring states and seeks to create those. "The Guild aspires to fill a void, creating a supportive platform through networking events, regular meetups, and impactful exhibitions", Kaveri Banikya, co-founder and an entrepreneur herself, told Business North East during an interaction.

The Guild says its mission goes beyond a mere exhibition - it is a commitment to handholding entrepreneurs, offering them invaluable market exposure, networking opportunities, and a pathway to sustainable growth.

Barasha Dutta, another co-founder, could barely contain her excitement while speaking to Business North East: "Our exhibition showcases 19 stalls, with a remarkable 18 of them being led by dynamic women entrepreneurs."

Dutta highlighted the Guild's mission to provide essential support to entrepreneurs, particularly women, by offering them a platform for market exposure and growth. "We aim to handhold entrepreneurs, giving them invaluable networking opportunities and facilitating their overall development," she stressed.

Banikya outlined the Guild's commitment to filling this gap by establishing what she called a "robust platform." "We aspire to create a mass of communities, fostering a larger supporting platform through networking opportunities, regular meetups, and exhibitions."

Already boasting a membership of 250 entrepreneurs, the Guild aims to grow its community to 1,000 entrepreneurs in 2024. Nilakshi Sharma, a corporate lawyer and the third co-founder of the Entrepreneurs' Guild emphasized the importance of providing ongoing support. "We are not just organizing an exhibition; we also offer sessions, workshops, and continuous support at every step of a business or startup," she said to Business North East.

Ranju Mohan, the founder of IKIGROW and the event's chief guest praised the guild's initiative and stressed that businesses and startups require platforms that provide "support and handholding." Mohan commended the changing landscape for women entrepreneurs and noted the positive impact of facilitators in making product innovations and market research more accessible.

The pop-up exhibition features a diverse array of entrepreneurs from Northeast India showcasing their unique products.

Relatively-known brands such as Hathai, Mahura Weaves, Ezaar Collective, Vama Interiors, and Looms by Rupali showcased wares ranging from traditional handlooms to handicrafts, oxidized jewelry, pearls, aromatic candles, baked goods, and readymade mekhela chadars. The event also included captivating magic shows, providing attendees with a holistic and engaging experience.

"The Entrepreneurs' Guild's inaugural exhibition will ignite a spark in the Northeast, signaling a new era for businesses, especially women in the region", the founders mentioned enthusiastically to Business North East.

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