‘We Rise’ Celebrates 10 Trailblazing Women Entrepreneurs Across India

A Landmark celebration of women’s enterprise and resilience, global logistics giant DP world and Niti Aayog’s women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) came together on 10 June 2026, honoured 10 outstanding women entrepreneurs at the grand culmination of We Rise initiative. The event held in New Delhi marked the end of an eight-month journey that transformed hundreds of ambitions into export ready enterprises.

What is We Rise?

We Rise- an acronym for Women Entrepreneurs Reimagining Inclusive and Sustainable Enterprises- was launched in October 2025 to support women entrepreneurs with the skills, Knowledge and networks needed to scale their businesses and access new markets. The initiative is a part of WEP’s broader Award To Reward (ATR) framework, plug-and-play platform designed to bring ecosystem stakeholders together around the specific needs of women entrepreneurs.

Backed by DP World’s global logistics network and trade expertise, the initiative forms part of WEP’s broader platform focused on accelerating women’s participation in international trade. The collaboration is a powerful example of public-private partnership done right- government vision meeting corporate muscle.

The competition: 600+ dreams, 10 Champions

The top 10 entrepreneurs were selected from over 600 applications from across India, reflecting the growing ambitions of women-led enterprises to participate in India’s trade and economic growth story.

The honorees were recognised for building innovative and impactful businesses across sectors including food, handicrafts, textiles, beauty and wellness. What united these women was not just the strength of their products, but their readiness to their ventures beyond borders and into the competitive world of global trade.

What the programme delivered

We Rise was not merely a recognition exercise- it was a structured transformation programme. Through structured mentorship, expert-led workshops and digital learning modules, participants gained practical insights into branding, packaging, logistics, compliance and positioning for international markets.

This ground level capacity building is what sets We Rise apart from conventional felicitation programmes. Women entrepreneurs who entered the programme as local business owners left it with the tools, confidence and market orientation to think globally.

Additionally, selected entrepreneurs were given the opportunity to display their products at Bharat Mart, located in Jebel Ali Free Zone, Dubai- a major trade hub connecting Indian businesses with global buyers. For many of the finalists, international retail and trade.

Voices that inspired

The culmination event featured a powerful panel discussion bringing together sport, policy and industry. Cricket icon and former Indian Captain Mithali Raj drew a moving parallel between sporting grit and entrepreneurial determination, saying the women celebrated through We Rise had shown the same spirit as elite athletes- stepping up, proving their strength, and building businesses ready for the global arena.

Anna Roy, programme Director, NITI Aayog, and Mission Director, WEP, underlined India’s growing role in global supply chains and why women’s participation in trade is no longer optional but critical to building a more inclusive and resilient economy. She added that We Rise was designed as a comprehensive platform to equip women entrepreneurs with not just skills, but confidence and market orientation to scale sustainability.

The road ahead

DP World will continue to support the finalists through ongoing access to curated learning resources, industry networks and ecosystem opportunities aimed at long- term business growth competitiveness. The programme does not end with the felicitation- it is beginning of a sustained relationship between India’s women entrepreneurs and the global trade infrastructure DP World commands.

At a time when India is aggressively positioning itself as a global manufacturing and export hub, We Rise sends a clear and timely message: the next chapter of India's economic rise will be written, in large part, by its women.