Thiru. T.M. Anbarasan, Hon’ble Minister for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MS & ME) Tamil Nadu Government, has launched the 5th season of Sakthi Masala Homepreneur Awards 2022 (‘Suyasakthi Virudhugal’), a platform providing recognition for women engaged in home-based ventures in the country. It is an initiative by Brand Avatar, an integrated marketing communications and brand & event management solutionscompany.
Ms. R Radikaa Sarathkumar, actress, producer; Chairperson & Managing Director, Radaan Mediaworks (I) Ltd, and Mr. Sivarajah Ramanathan, Mission Director and CEO, Tamil Nadu Startup and Innovation Mission (TANSIM), took part in the launch ceremony as the guests of honour. The event also attracted the participation of eminent personalities from industries, academia, government, and social service organisations.
Sakthi Masala Homepreneur Awards (Suyasakthi Viruthugal) seeks to provide a platform to recognize and celebrate the women who have chosen to pursue their passion through entrepreneurship from home. Any woman earning through homepreneurship, is eligible to apply for the award under the following categories:
1. Agriculture
2. Healthcare
3. Home Retail
4. Arts & Culture
5. Sports & Fitness
6. Food & Beverage
7. Digital Homepreneur
8. Beauty & Wealth
9. Education & Literature
10. Media & Entertainment
11. Social Welfare & Differently Abled
12. Home Professionals
13. Technology
14. NRI / Outside Tamil Nadu
The current edition of the Sakthi Masala Homepreneur Awards is also providing college going girls a platform to share their entrepreneurial ideas, and plans to start, execute and scale up their dream ventures through Sakthi Masala Homepreneur Awards Student edition in association with YI – Young Indians. This initiative will recognise the best ideas presented by the students. Any college-going girl or woman student is eligible to apply.
The last date for sending nominations for the Homepreneur Award, and for the registration of student edition is on 2nd July, 2022. (https://homepreneurawards.com/)
This year Sakthi Masala Homepreneur Awards has tied-up with StartupTN (TANSIM), an initiative of the Government of Tamil Nadu, nurturing a benevolent entrepreneurial ecosystem in the State. StartupTN will provide a free acceleration programme to a minimum of 20 and maximum of 30 deserving home-based entrepreneurs, shortlistedbased on the StartupTN’s eligibility criteria and policies, and transform them to startup entrepreneurs. StartupTN will consider providing a grant upto Rs 10 lakh for each of the promising startups conditioned the startup mandatorily meets all the set eligibility criteria of StartupTN.
Talking about Sakthi Masala Homepreneur Awards, Mr. Hemachandran, Founder & CEO, Brand Avatar, said, “Women have always been the contributing members of our society. In addition to discharging their household duties, they support their families economically by operating small or medium businesses from their home. They also take up work as freelancers. These homepreneurs make a world of difference to the local community by creating and supplying quality products and services. Given a right platform to grow, they could scale their venture and become business leaders. We have instituted the Homepreneurs award to bring to the limelight the silent yet significant contributionswomen make to the society and the economy.”
Sakthi Masala Homepreneur Awards is unique in the sense that it honours home-based business women, instead of corporate talents. The award was instituted in 2017 and so far four seasons have been held. The first three ceremonies took place at Chennai, while the 4th one went digital. The 2022 award ceremony is all set to become a national event.Brand Avatar aims to make the event an international eventby 2025.
It is to be noted that the company has conceived and is conducting several magnificent events including Pride of Tamil Nadu Awards, Fashion Premier Week Village Ticket, Celebrity Badminton league etc.