Skill to Enterprise Model (STEM): Advanced Certificate Program in Entrepreneurship and New Venture
Advanced Certificate Program in Entrepreneurship and New Venture (ac.ENVC) Creation in collaboration with SWAVALAMBAN: Skill to Enterprise Model (STEM) initiative of Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) is a rigorous entrepreneurship enabler program with a mission to build a new generation of entrepreneurial leaders equipped to create impactful, scalable ventures from the ground up. Launched by the Indian Institute of Management Raipur in partnership with the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), this program is highly immersive. It provides structured training, mentoring, and venture support to help individuals transition from aspiring founders to confident, capable owner-managers of new enterprises.
The core objectives of ac.ENVC is to identify high-potential individuals, cultivate their entrepreneurial mindset, and equip them with the tools to launch viable, sustainable enterprises. Specifically, the program aims to:
• Facilitate the launch of at least 30 new ventures that create meaningful local employment.
• Build a pipeline of entrepreneurs from tier-2 and tier-3 towns, with a regional focus on Chhattisgarh.
• Enable each participant to become an owner-manager of a legally registered, operational enterprise.
• Provide end-to-end support covering ideation, validation, funding, and scale-readiness.
• Strengthen the entrepreneurial ecosystem through long-term mentorship, investor connections, and institutional support.
By the end of the program, participants are expected to have incorporated their ventures, hired their first employees, and created real value within their communities.
Chhattisgarh stands to gain significantly from this initiative. By encouraging local entrepreneurship, ac.ENVC helps create a small business network that serves local needs, generates employment, and boosts grassroots innovation. This, in turn, fosters economic self-reliance, stimulates the local economy, and helps bridge the urban-rural development divide.
The SWAVALAMBAN-STEM program offers an empowering blend of experiential learning, mentorship, and real-world application—providing participants with all the tools necessary to translate entrepreneurial ambition into action. Designed to remove both knowledge and access barriers, the program is rooted in inclusion, accessibility, and impact.
Participants benefit from a dynamic learning environment continuously reinforced through practical exercises, fieldwork, and exposure to startup ecosystems. They are learning how to be entrepreneurs and becoming entrepreneurs in real-time.
The SWAVALAMBAN-STEM program is built on a thoughtfully phased approach to mirror an entrepreneurial journey’s natural arc. Over 18 months, participants move through a curated sequence of learning, experimentation, and execution, transforming from ideators into implementers. Structured in two strategic blocks, the program seamlessly balances academic rigor with real-world venture building.
The Inception Phase (First 9 Months) lays the foundation for entrepreneurial competence. It introduces participants to business frameworks, market research, ideation strategies, and leadership development. Classroom training is interspersed with field visits, hands-on assignments, and mentoring support that helps bring their venture concepts to life. Participants are expected to refine their ideas, test assumptions, and shape strong business models through field experiments and feedback loops.
The Growth Phase (Next 9 Months) is designed for scaling action. Participants begin incorporating their businesses, hiring teams, building customer pipelines, and preparing for investor engagement. They continue to receive guidance on operations, finance, compliance, and growth strategies while engaging with startup ecosystems and support services.
The program offers structured opportunities to connect with mentors, industry leaders, and peers throughout both phases. Weekly mentoring sessions, group discussions, pitch practice rounds, and milestone reviews are integral to the rhythm of the program. This comprehensive framework ensures participants are equipped with the knowledge to start a business and actively execute their entrepreneurial vision with confidence and clarity.
Founded in 2010, the Indian Institute of Management Raipur is one of India’s premier business schools, committed to shaping future leaders through cutting-edge education, meaningful research, and societal impact. Strategically located in Atal Nagar, Chhattisgarh, IIM Raipur stands as a symbol of excellence in management education in India’s emerging regions.
Guided by its strategic positioning statement, “Building Business Owners,” IIM Raipur focuses on producing world-class managers and nurturing visionary entrepreneurs and enterprise leaders. Through initiatives like the SWAVALAMBAN-STEM Program, the institute catalyses first-generation entrepreneurs to build sustainable and scalable ventures that transform local economies.
IIM Raipur’s commitment to inclusive growth is reflected in its deep engagement with socio-economic challenges, particularly those faced by underserved regions. The institute actively contributes to building a socially responsive business ecosystem by linking academic excellence with grassroots innovation, policy research, and startup incubation.
Whether through curriculum, community engagement, or capacity building, IIM Raipur continues to lead the charge in creating business solutions that generate value—economically, ethically, and socially.
For more information visit www.iimraipur.ac.in
