Studying abroad can be a financial challenge for many deserving students who often opt out due to high course fees, visa fees, accommodation and food costs. Therefore, scholarships help many people pursue their dreams.
News18’s ‘Scholarship Guide’ offers Indian students the best and most prestigious scholarships to study abroad, with most of them covering flight tickets, accommodation and course fees ; and some also provide an allowance.
If you have an idea or own an early-stage startup, governments around the world are looking for you. Many countries including India have realized the potential of job creators or business owners and are providing training to young innovative minds so that they can start their entrepreneurial journey.
From Switzerland to Greece, from IITs to IIMs and private universities back home, many offer training, mentoring and incubation programs for young adults to grow a business.
Applicants should carefully evaluate available options and evaluate “how the grant or program aligns with their business goals and the potential impact it can have on their project,” suggests Vibha Kagzi, founder and CEO of ReachIvy .com – an education and career center. advice platform led by a Harvard graduate. “Applicants should evaluate the financial support offered and its suitability for the needs of their project. Since these opportunities can vary over time, it is crucial that students and budding companies follow them,” she adds.
News18 provides students with the best incubation and mentoring programs to turn their business idea into an empire.
Community Innovation Grant Program
The scholarship is an initiative of the Atal Innovation Mission led by government think tank NITI Aayog. The scholarship is aimed at people who want to innovate with the required infrastructure. This is a one-year fellowship where entrepreneurial skills training will be provided to fellows as they work on their ideas. They also get funding and opportunities to present their project to community leaders.
Who can apply: People with an idea of working on a start-up related to community development can apply. Applicants must be between the ages of 18 and 35 and hold a bachelor’s degree or diploma. Applicants must also be proficient in English at the intermediate level.
Selection procedure: Atal Community Innovation Centers are interested in individuals who seek to solve problems in the local community. Applicants will be shortlisted based on their innovative ideas, interest in problem solving, change management and entrepreneurial activities.
Where to apply: https://aim.gov.in/acic-fellowship.php
Odyssea Business Incubation Grant
This is a business incubation grant to help entrepreneurs start a business in Greece. The scholarship is funded by the NextFab Foundation. As part of the program, fellows will receive training in entrepreneurial skills, mentoring, coworking spaces, business support services, networking and funding opportunities.
Who can apply: Candidates with early-stage ideas or start-ups can apply. Applicants must be open to training and mentoring. Those joining an international country must bypass visas and international work rights. Applicants should also have good English skills and a good command of Greek, if necessary.
Selection procedure: There is a multi-level selection process. Applicants must first register either individually or in a small group. Shortlisted applications will be called for 16 hours of basic training. Based on their performance, candidates will be shortlisted for a one-year incubation program. The selected candidates will then benefit from the support of Odyssea with our coworking spaces, makerspace and our employability program.
Where to apply: https://odyssea.com/incubation-entrepreneurship-scholarship/
START Scholarship
Start Fellowship is an acceleration program in which fellows will be able to participate in online and offline sessions with investors, take courses at the University of St. Gallen, benefit from funding opportunities and turn their idea into a full-fledged start-up. Those who make it to the final stage receive a four-month founder’s grant to visit Switzerland and develop their start-up. It covers all costs, including travel, living expenses and insurance.
Who can apply: Students under the age of 25 can apply for this program.
Selection procedure: Applicants will have the chance to participate online in an eight-week incubation program. 35 selected founders will then participate in an integration program in Switzerland. In the final stage, applicants will benefit from professional mentoring, coaching and workshops and up to $30,000.
Where to apply: https://www.startglobal.org/start-fellowship
GreenPal Scholarship
GreenPal is offering a $2,000 scholarship to “the entrepreneur of tomorrow.” The mentoring program is for students who have a start-up or business plan and are looking for advice and funding. The scholarship provides funding and support to students each year. Allocated funds must be used for higher education at U.S.-based institutes.
Who can apply: Students who own a small business or have a business plan while still in college can apply.
Selection procedure: Applicants will be selected based on their business plan, however, they must also be enrolled in high school or college in business or a related major and have a cumulative GPA of 3.5 or higher.
Where to apply: https://www.yourgreenpal.com/scholarship
Wise stock market
This is an online mentoring program where candidates will be trained for 12 weeks and learn how to start, build and grow a business. They will also benefit from tailor-made mentoring depending on the stage of their start-up. Additionally, post-fellowship support in the form of guidance and updates will also be offered.
Who can apply: Candidates with an idea can apply for the scholarship irrespective of their caste and geography. The preferred age range is 18 to 40 years old.
Selection procedure: Applicants at different stages of their entrepreneurial journey can apply for the scholarship.
Where to apply: https://savvyfellows.com/apply/
Buddha Scholarship Program
The mentoring program aims to offer guidance to those working in development fields. Any start-up working to fill gaps in areas such as agriculture, livelihoods, health and environment, among other development areas, can apply. This is a non-residential program and fellows will meet six times over a 24-month period. They will benefit from expert advice and mentoring and have access to laboratories and facilities, links to rural communities and funding opportunities.
Who can apply: Applicants with a development start-up that directly supports vulnerable communities can apply for the program. Preference will be given to women, Dalits and tribal entrepreneurs. Although anyone can apply, preference will be given to those between the ages of 22 and 30.
Selection procedure: Each year, only 15 to 20 scholarship recipients are accepted. Applicants are selected based on their ideas and skills, as well as immersion and pilot testing of the idea in the first phase followed by a second stage in which they must create and manage a business in partnership with an organization.
Where to apply: https://www.thebuddhainstitute.org/campaign/
Beyond scholarships
Not only government colleges or premium IITs and IIMs, many private universities and colleges are also known for their incubators.
