Written by admin• March 7, 2026• 4:18 pm• Opportunities for Women

Call for Applications: GUSEC herSTART 5.0 2026

Application Deadline: March 10, 2026

About GUSEC herSTART 5.0

herSTART 5.0 is a women-focused startup acceleration program launched by the Gujarat University Startup and Entrepreneurship Council (GUSEC). This fifth edition represents a larger, impact-driven initiative designed to empower women entrepreneurs with enhanced resources, mentorship, and comprehensive support. With strong backing from central and state agencies, this edition aims to set new milestones for women-led startups nationwide.

The initiative provides mentorship, incubation support for up to two years, access to government grants of up to ₹50 lakhs, cloud credits worth up to $100,000, and dedicated co-working spaces. The program is specifically designed to empower women entrepreneurs and women-led startups to scale sustainable and innovative businesses.

herSTART was launched in 2019 and has successfully completed multiple editions with support from central and state agencies alongside partners. In 2022, the Hon’ble President of India, Smt. Droupadi Murmu, inaugurated a national platform for herSTART, expanding its mission to support women entrepreneurs across the country. The Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel officially inaugurated the fifth edition of herSTART in March 2026, highlighting its role in connecting women’s entrepreneurial skills with new-age technologies.

herSTART is an initiative by the Gujarat University Startup and Entrepreneurship Council (GUSEC), established with the vision of empowering innovative ideas by women. What began in 2019 as an attempt to bridge the gap between women and opportunities has created significant impact across the startup ecosystem, engaging over 1 lakh online users and supporting numerous women-led startups.

The program has received support from central and state agencies alongside corporate partners. The Chief Minister of Gujarat has emphasized that herSTART aims to support women in launching ventures across various sectors, including semiconductor startups, chip design, fabrication management, semiconductor packaging, and deep-tech innovation. Applications are currently being accepted for the GUSEC herSTART 5.0 2026.

Program Structure

The herSTART 5.0 program follows a structured four-stage journey for selected participants:

Bootcamp: Shortlisted participants will join an intensive bootcamp program, covering key startup topics (conducted in virtual mode)
Accelerator: A series of expert-led sessions, complemented by one-on-one mentoring and industry connections
Residential Program: An offline program will be organized with the cohort startups
Demo Day: Cohort members will pitch to a panel of investors to secure funding and gain valuable feedback

Benefits of GUSEC herSTART 5.0

Selected participants receive comprehensive support including:

E-certificates for all participants
Mentorship, guidance, and networking support from industry experts
Up to 2 years of incubation support at GUSEC
Access to government grants and funds (up to ₹50 lakhs)
Dedicated co-working space for women entrepreneurs
Up to $100,000 in cloud credits from technology partners
Technology resources and prototyping facility access
Single-window startup support for women entrepreneurs
Access to vibrant community of fellow founders
Industry connects for business expansion

GUSEC herSTART 5.0 Requirements

Eligibility Criteria:

Must be an Indian citizen
Business must be at least 50% women-owned
The idea should be innovative and original

The program is designed for:

Women entrepreneurs
Women-led startups
Early-stage ventures seeking structured incubation
Startups looking for funding access and scale support

Ideal applicants are women founders with innovative business ideas and strong growth potential. According to the program FAQ, any woman or female founder or core team member of a startup who is an Indian citizen can apply. Female applicants may apply with more than one idea; however, only one idea per applicant shall be selected.

Program Timeline