Entrepreneurship is a fancy word but only those who have had their fingers burnt, know the grind involved. Not to worry, for Microsoft India’s recently launched Build Your Business (BYB) curriculum, a comprehensive package for micro and small businesses that provides best practices, access to technology, and training tools to help skill entrepreneurs and grow their businesses.
The curriculum is designed as a self-contained, flash-based module which can be pre-loaded on computers. The curriculum will be available to download for all non-profit organisations focused on empowering youth like NGOs engaged in the space of youth skilling, employment and entrepreneurship. The implementation partner, QUEST Alliance, will also introduce this curriculum in regional Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs).
“At Microsoft India, we have a long-standing commitment to helping youth realise their full potential. BYB is aimed at empowering entrepreneurs and startups with tools and practices to develop their business strategy, build and sustain their business, and effectively compete in the marketplace. With this, we hope to encourage youth to become entrepreneurs and job creators,” says Rajinish Menon, Director, MicrosoftVentures India, of the initiative.
Developed by Microsoft in association with the International Youth Foundation, Menon says that BYB will introduce entrepreneurs to the basic ideas, activities and skills needed to successfully launch and grow a small enterprise. “It covers essential steps such as market research, developing an effective sales pitch, and ways to obtain startup capital. The curriculum is designed as a series of modules and in India, it will feature several case studies, providing students with insights into local business practices,” he adds.
Of Microsoft India’s ventures in India, Menon says “We have been running several initiatives to empower young people to succeed in a mobile-first, cloud-first world. Through investments of over `670 crore, the company’s skill development, entrepreneurship and digital literacy programmes have touched over 5 crore people in the last 10 years.” Details at www.microsoft.com/en-in/about.
— shilpa.vasudevan@newindianexpress.com
