The Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP), Government of Telangana, in partnership with TBIS BITS Pilani Hyderabad, T-Hub, and WE Hub, has announced a ₹12.66 crore Challenge Fund to accelerate women- and youth-led rural enterprises across Telangana. Supported by the Ministry of Rural Development, the initiative aims to nurture more than 300 grassroots entrepreneurs and strengthen pathways from self-help group participation to formal, scalable businesses.
Applications open on March 8, 2026, marking International Women’s Day. Enterprises from manufacturing, food processing, agri-allied activities, services, handicrafts, and emerging sectors are invited to apply. The programme will be rolled out across all 33 districts through SERP’s district and block-level network.
Anchored under the National Rural Livelihoods Mission incubator framework, the Challenge Fund will offer enterprise diagnostics, customised growth plans, sector mentoring, digital enablement, branding and market access support, and assistance in securing finance. The initiative builds on Telangana’s network of more than 65 lakh women organised into 4.35 lakh self-help groups, supporting their transition from microfinance participation to sustainable entrepreneurship.
Divya Devarajan (IAS), CEO of SERP Telangana, said the Fund reflects the state’s commitment to strengthening rural entrepreneurship as a pillar of inclusive growth. She noted that structured funding and incubation will help rural founders formalise businesses and expand opportunities for long-term economic participation.
Mir Ali of TBIS BITS Pilani Hyderabad said the partnership would combine research expertise, technical mentorship, and incubation support to help founders strengthen product-market fit and operational capability. Kavikrut, CEO of T-Hub, highlighted the value of connecting underserved founders to global networks, mentorship, and market opportunities. Sita Pallacholla, CEO of WE Hub, emphasised the importance of ensuring women entrepreneurs—regardless of geography—have access to capital, knowledge, and networks needed to scale their ventures.
By integrating rural entrepreneurs into formal credit, mentorship, and market ecosystems, the Challenge Fund aims to expand Telangana’s pipeline of growth-oriented enterprises while supporting the state’s long-term development vision and India’s broader Viksit Bharat 2047 goals. Headquartered in Hyderabad, T-Hub is one of the world’s largest startup ecosystems, supporting over 2,000 startups through tailored programmes, market access initiatives, funding opportunities, and world-class infrastructure.
It also functions as an incubator of incubators, hosting and mentoring initiatives such as the Atal Incubation Centre (AIC) and the Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence Technology Hub (MATH). Focused on founder success, T-Hub connects startups with global markets, investors, and industry leaders, offering sustained support throughout their growth journey.
The Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP), Government of Telangana, works to mobilise and empower rural women through the formation and strengthening of Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and their federations across the state’s rural districts. SERP follows a comprehensive poverty alleviation approach that includes building sustainable community institutions, improving financial access through banking partnerships, strengthening livelihood value chains, promoting human development, and facilitating access to social protection schemes.
Currently, over 45.6 lakh members are organised into 4.35 lakh SHGs, supported by Village Organisations, Mandal Samakhyas, and Zilla Samakhyas. This community network has advanced financial inclusion while expanding into livelihood support, skills training, and improved access to government services in health and education.
The Technology Business Incubator Society (TBIS) at BITS Pilani Hyderabad provides a strong technology-focused platform for startups and emerging enterprises. Building on BITS Pilani’s legacy of producing founders behind globally recognised companies, TBIS supports startups with advanced research infrastructure, technical mentorship, and access to emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, data analytics, biotechnology, and digital platforms.
Through faculty guidance, specialised lab access, and product development support, TBIS helps startups build market-ready, scalable solutions. The incubator also works closely with rural and grassroots enterprises, including those under SERP programmes, to adopt modern technologies and improve efficiency and competitiveness.
WE Hub, established by the Government of Telangana, is India’s first state-led nodal organisation dedicated exclusively to supporting women entrepreneurs across urban and rural communities. It provides a comprehensive platform offering mentorship, capacity building, market access, and financial inclusion support to women founders from diverse backgrounds. By partnering with national and international organisations, WE Hub helps women-led enterprises start, grow, and scale sustainably.
