deAsra’s
Entrepreneur Excellence Awards 2024 Celebrating HER Business Excellence
The last date to fill out the application form is 8th March 2024, 11:59 PM
About the Awards
Welcome to deAsra's Entrepreneur Excellence Awards 2024, where we applaud the entrepreneurial spirit and celebrate remarkable achievements. This year, we highlight the significance of women entrepreneurs and their valuable contributions to the Indian economy. Our prestigious event not only acknowledges outstanding business accomplishments but also fosters a thriving ecosystem for women in entrepreneurship. Join us as we honour and celebrate these entrepreneurs at our annual flagship event - the Entrepreneur Excellence Awards. Venue - Dewang Mehta Auditorium, C/o Persistent Systems Ltd., Bhageerath, S B Road, Pune 411 016. Date : 6th April 2024
Questions? 
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Exciting Rewards
A cash award of Rs. 25,000 to each of the five winners.
Story of each of the five winners to be published in deAsra’s e-magazine Yashaswi Udyojak and on deAsra’s social media channels.
Each winner receives a complimentary expert consultation to address business queries and gain invaluable advice.
Program Highlights
- 5 Women Entrepreneurs who have exhibited exceptional growth and innovation in their businesses will be rewarded with exciting prizes.
- The entrepreneurs will be felicitated by Dr. Anand Deshpande (Founder & Chairman of Persistent Systems, and Founder of deAsra Foundation), and get a chance to interact with him.
- This event will also witness the launch of an exciting initiative that will help women entrepreneurs take their businesses to the next level.
- All women entrepreneurs who apply for these awards will get to attend online knowledge sessions on topics which are helpful in business growth.
- An opportunity to be in the presence of and learn from renowned women entrepreneurs.
Jury Members
Kavita Koparkar
Kavita Koparkar, based in Pune, is a seasoned professional with over 15 years of experience as a makeup artist. Armed with a Masters in Economics, she honed her craft under the tutelage of Vikram Gaikwad. Kavita is the proud owner of 'Kavita Koparkar Studio,' an exclusive Bridal Makeup Studio, and a thriving makeup & hairstyling academy. Having adorned over 3000 brides to date and conducted workshops for 700+ women on personal makeup and hairstyling, she is a beacon of expertise in her field. Recognized for her contributions, she was awarded the Stree Shakti Award in 2016. Additionally, Kavita is the creative force behind 'Pratha,' her own Saree brand, offering a curated collection of sarees sourced from across India. With a keen eye for color, fabric, and aesthetics, coupled with her deep understanding of Indian weddings, she brings unparalleled sophistication to every endeavor.
Nishitta Ghaatge
Nishitta Ghaatge, comes with over 15 years of dedicated experience in the tourism industry. She has served in various capacities, including as a soft skills trainer with C-DAC and D.Y. Patil, a public relations officer at HYT Engineering, and as the proprietor of Sketch Express. Her expertise extends to collaborating with 17 pharmaceutical companies as a corporate consultant, where she has contributed significantly to their operations. Recognized as an Australia specialist, she has received numerous accolades for her contributions, including the Most Trusted Travel Agency in Pune by actor Govinda in 2019, the Nari Shakti Puraskar in 2019, and the Entrepreneur of the Year in the tourism category by PCMC in 2017. Additionally, she has been honored as the Pride of Maharashtra Award recipient in 2019 and recognized as the Lokmat Professional Icon of PCMC in 2018.
Rahul Limaye
Rahul Limaye, with over 30 years of diverse experience in Sales & Business Development, Pre-Sales, Product Management, Business Analysis, and Strategic Planning & Analysis, brings a unique blend of expertise to the table. His domain knowledge spans across multiple sectors including IT, healthcare, manufacturing, retail, banking and finance, recruitment, travel and tourism, education, and more. Specializing in business growth, technology adoption, process optimization, and market research, Rahul is adept at driving success in various industries. His objective is to collaborate closely with business owners, guiding them through each stage of their journey towards achieving their goals and bringing smiles to their faces as a "Smile Catalyst." With a patient and appreciative approach, he prioritizes building meaningful relationships and facilitating the realization of desired results through predefined steps and milestones.
Sonali Deshpande
Sonali Deshpande, the Chief Trustee and Chairperson of the Board of Trustees at Persistent Foundation since its establishment in 2009, is a dedicated leader committed to social work and philanthropy. With prior experience at Persistent Systems Limited and the airline industry, she brings valuable insights to her role. For the past 20 years, Sonali has served as a kindergarten school teacher at a prestigious school in Pune, demonstrating her passion for education and nurturing young minds. She channels her commitment to social welfare through her leadership at Persistent Foundation and deAsra Foundation.
Ashwini Bhagwat
Ashwini Bhagwat, the Operations Director at Renu Electronics Private Limited, is a seasoned leader driving excellence in operations and manufacturing. She brings over 30 years of extensive experience in Planning, Supply Chain, Quality Management, and Human Resource Management to her role. She has successfully spearheaded the establishment of factory operations in two separate manufacturing locations in Pune. Under her adept leadership, Renu Electronics has been recognized multiple times as the best company in Electronics in the state of Maharashtra. With a bold vision for the future, Ashwini is dedicated to setting the standard for excellence in Operations and Manufacturing.
Seema Desai
Seema Desai, a dynamic entrepreneur and philanthropist, brings over three decades of leadership experience in technology and corporate social responsibility (CSR). As Co-Founder & Managing Director of Bitwise and Founder & Managing Trustee of Bitwise Foundation, she shapes their growth with a commitment to people values and community empathy. Seema's leadership inspires diverse initiatives, fostering excellence while driving societal impact. Beyond Bitwise, her foundation's projects benefit marginalized communities and promote environmental sustainability. Recognized for her innovative leadership, including the Woman Entrepreneur Award 2008 and Woman Entrepreneur of the Year 2010, Seema continues leveraging technology for societal good, driven by her passion to create opportunities for all to thrive.
The Entrepreneur Excellence Awards is an effort to recognize, appreciate and felicitate 5 resilient women entrepreneurs who have overcome challenges and still managed to grow their businesses
Any women entrepreneur over the age of 18 who fits the eligibility criteria and follows the terms and conditions of the program may participate.
- Business Domain: All sectors.
- Geography: The business should be located in India.
- Business should be registered in the name of a woman.
Apply by clicking on the label ‘Apply Now’ and filling out the application form.
- Application period: February 2024 – March 2024.
- Entrepreneur Excellence Awards ceremony: TBD
No. You must be a business owner with at least 2-years of experience in the same business before February 2024.
Yes. Submissions are open from February 2024 – March 2024.
Yes, you may register with both, provided you have at least at least 2-years of experience in both businesses before February 2024.
Your application will be reviewed and analysed by our panel of experts. An evaluation will be conducted to shortlist and eventually select our top 5 winners.
Yes
Disclaimer : deAsra Foundation (including their staff and agents) are the (“Organiser(s)”) of the Entrepreneur Excellence Awards, 2024. (“Award(s)”). The Award is presented in good faith, by following a transparent, fair, and objective evaluation process and the Organisers retain the discretion and right to evaluate, nominate and select winners for the Awards. Organisers further reserve the right to reject or entertain any disputes and the decision of the Organisers shall be final in all matters relating to the Awards.
The Awards are finalised as per the information collected, received, and processed for the limited purpose of evaluating the winners. The information collected for the purposes of the Award has no legal, tax or financial issues, etc. nor is the Organiser concerned with any legal dispute or non-compliance of the applicants.
The Award and the associated accolades presented by the Organisers are meant for appreciating entrepreneur’s contribution in the food industry, but are not guarantees, assurances or acceptance of any obligation/liability on the Organisers part. Further, Organiser provides no warranty, makes no statement or representation, express or implied, with respect to the accuracy, completeness or usefulness of the information contained herein, and in so far as permitted by law, shall not have any legal liability (including liability for negligence) for any loss or damage which may result, whether directly or indirectly, from the provision or use of such information.