The National SC-ST Hub’s Business Accelerator Programme is proving that mentorship, market access and business strategy can be just as valuable as funding in helping India’s first-generation entrepreneurs grow, compete and win bigger opportunities.
Ask any first-generation entrepreneur what keeps them awake at night, and funding may not be the first answer.
Winning customers. Pricing products correctly. Understanding government procurement. Building credibility. Expanding into new markets.
These challenges often determine whether a business grows or merely survives.
Recognising this reality, the National SC-ST Hub (NSSH) under the Ministry of MSME is taking a different approach to entrepreneurship development. Instead of focusing only on financial assistance, the initiative is helping entrepreneurs from Scheduled Castes (SC) and Scheduled Tribes (ST) build the skills, confidence and business capabilities needed to compete in mainstream markets.
At the centre of this effort is the Business Accelerator Programme (BAP)—a structured mentoring initiative that combines business strategy, industry insights and practical guidance to help enterprises move beyond survival and prepare for long-term growth.
Building Capabilities Before Capital
The National SC-ST Hub was created to address some of the structural barriers that continue to limit the growth of many SC/ST enterprises, including access to markets, finance, technology, institutional networks and business opportunities.
Rather than viewing these challenges in isolation, the programme adopts a broader approach.
Entrepreneurs receive guidance on financial management, pricing strategies, tender participation, compliance, business planning and operational efficiency-skills that are often as important as access to capital when competing in organised markets.
The objective is straightforward: build stronger businesses that can compete on capability rather than depend solely on policy support.
Turning Business Advice into Business Growth
The Business Accelerator Programme is designed to bridge the gap between entrepreneurial potential and commercial success.
Through structured mentoring, industry exposure and targeted interventions, the accelerator helps business owners sharpen their strategy, improve operational efficiency and better understand market opportunities, particularly in government procurement.
More importantly, the learning isn’t confined to classrooms.
For many participating enterprises, it has translated into new business opportunities.
A Better Pricing Strategy, A Bigger Opportunity
In West Bengal, M/s Safety & Security Engineering, founded by Debasish Mondal, manufactures fire protection and life safety equipment.
Although the company had built reliable products, it struggled with pricing, market visibility and competitive positioning in a highly regulated industry.
After participating in the Business Accelerator Programme at IIM Sambalpur, the enterprise adopted a more structured pricing framework backed by a clearer understanding of costs and market dynamics.
The change soon reflected in the order book.
The company successfully secured government tenders worth ₹8.48 lakh from Power Grid Corporation of India Limited, strengthening both its market presence and competitiveness.
Helping Renewable Energy Enterprises Scale
The accelerator has also supported entrepreneurs operating in emerging sectors.
Assam-based Renergy Solution Pvt. Ltd., founded by Bhargav Deori, had already established itself in the renewable energy sector by executing solar projects for government institutions.
The next challenge was scaling the business.
Through the programme, the company strengthened its business planning, formalised internal processes and improved its engagement with government procurement platforms.
The intervention has enhanced the enterprise’s readiness to compete for larger public-sector projects while expanding its presence in the renewable energy market.
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Precision Engineering Meets Better Business Planning
In Maharashtra, Sunil Popatrao Jagtap spent nearly 18 years working in an engineering company before establishing Sawalaram Enterprises in Nashik to manufacture hydraulic cylinders.
Joining the Business Accelerator Programme at IIM Shillong gave him deeper insights into business strategy and government procurement.
The knowledge soon translated into business.
The company secured a ₹5.10 lakh tender from the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) for supplying hydraulic cylinders, helping strengthen its market position and creating a platform for future growth.
A Lesson for India’s Startup and MSME Ecosystem
India’s entrepreneurship story is often told through the lens of venture capital, unicorns and technology startups.
Yet millions of entrepreneurs are building businesses without institutional funding.
For many of them, access to the right mentor, stronger business processes and new markets can be more valuable than raising capital.
The National SC-ST Hub’s Business Accelerator Programme reflects that reality.
Rather than replacing financial support, it complements it by helping entrepreneurs understand pricing, improve compliance, strengthen operations and compete more effectively in formal markets.
These are the capabilities that often determine whether an enterprise survives its early years—or scales into a sustainable business.
Entrepreneurship as a Tool for Inclusive Growth
As India works towards its Viksit Bharat 2047 vision, expanding entrepreneurship among historically underrepresented communities is becoming an economic priority alongside a social one.
The experience of enterprises from West Bengal, Assam and Maharashtra shows that when entrepreneurs receive structured mentoring, industry exposure and access to opportunities, they are better equipped to compete in mainstream markets.
The National SC-ST Hub demonstrates that inclusive entrepreneurship is not just about extending financial assistance. It is equally about building confidence, improving business capability and creating pathways to larger markets.
Capital may help an entrepreneur start a business.
Mentorship, market access and business capability often determine how far that business goes.
For India’s MSME ecosystem, that may be the biggest lesson emerging from the Business Accelerator Programme.
