16th January. Yes, that is the day Startup India started up. The day which is being celebrated as National Startup Day.

To celebrate the spirit of Indian startup ecosystem and mark this momentous day, we have chosen 10th January 2023 to 16th January 2023 as Startup India Innovation Week. In this context, various workshops, capacity building sessions and events are being hosted by Startup India, with each session dedicated to a particular theme pertaining to the entrepreneurial ecosystem in India. Enter MAARG, a platform which serves the national goals of promoting entrepreneurship and yes, the spirit of entrepreneurship.

MAARG (Mentorship, Advisory, Assistance, Resilience, and Growth), the National Mentorship Platform is a one-stop platform to facilitate mentorship for startups across diverse sectors, functions, stages, geographies, and domains.

As a part of the week-long celebration of entrepreneurship, Department for Promotion of Industry, and Internal Trade (DPIIT) under the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry, with the support of Zone Startups India is organizing the MAARG Mentor Masterclass on 13th January 2023 from 3:00 PM to 5:30 PM at 25th Floor, P. J. Towers (BSE Building), Dalal Street, Fort, Mumbai. Besides mentors attending in person, outstation mentors too will be able to virtually join the session.

The objective of the workshop is to equip the attendees with effective ways of mentoring startups, by enhancing their capacities and knowledge. Industry stalwarts who possess expertise in the area will mentor the mentors.

• Framework for Effective Mentoring by Bhushan Gajaria, Founder, Beehive Capital
• Helping your Mentees Raise a Round of Capital by Vikrant Potnis, FundEnable
• Panel Discussion on What Founders expect from Mentors by Mr Prasad Menon, CEO, CIBA

Both MAARG Mentors as well as aspiring mentors have been invited to be a part of the Masterclass.

Startup India

So, what is Startup India? It is a flagship initiative intended to catalyze startup culture and build a strong and inclusive ecosystem for innovation and entrepreneurship in India. Since its launch in 2016, the Startup India Initiative has rolled out several programs to support entrepreneurs, build a robust startup ecosystem and transform India into a country of job creators rather than job seekers. These programs are managed by a dedicated Startup India Team, reporting to the Department for Industrial Policy and Promotion (DPIIT) under the Union Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

National Mentorship Platform enhances mentor capacity to support startups through targeted masterclass and panel discussion. Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade is organising the MAARG Mentor Masterclass to operationalise the National Mentorship Platform and strengthen mentor capacity within the startup support architecture. The Masterclass convenes industry mentors and aspiring mentors to deliver practical guidance on effective mentoring approaches, capital-raising support for mentees, and alignment of mentor services with founder expectations.