Inspiring sixty Goan women food entrepreneurs to take their first step toward culinary entrepreneurship State Bank of India Foundation’s Goa Sashakti EntrepreNaari initiative has the makings of the beginning of a significant shift in Goa’s culinary landscape.Inspiring sixty Goan women food entrepreneurs to take their first step toward culinary entrepreneurship State Bank of India Foundation’s Goa Sashakti EntrepreNaari initiative has the makings of the beginning of a significant shift in Goa’s culinary landscape.
The unique initiative, collectively partnered by the SBI Foundation, SEED and Aspire For Her, goes beyond an incubation program, celebrating empowerment and the invaluable power of local knowledge, paving the way for a new generation of women entrepreneurs in the food sector.
“EntrepreNaari is a thriving community, but this is our first-ever state-based initiative. Goa is the perfect place to begin, rich in heritage and bursting with culinary potential,” said Madhura DasGupta Sinha, founder and CEO of Aspire For Her. “This initiative is designed to help women discover their voice, their value, and their recipe for success.”
Project Goa Sashakti EntrepreNaari supports early-stage and innovative women-led ventures through a structured, year-long program with expert workshops, mentorship, branding support and funding access.
Project Goa Sashakti EntrepreNaari has been initiated with the enabling of 60 spirited businesswomen to establish viable ventures in Goa’s food and beverage sector. The initial step will mark a jump pad to further mobilization of over 1000 women towards economic agency. This project seeks to bridge the gender gap in entrepreneurship by tackling the root challenges of access to capital, mentorship, and market networks.
“Our goal is not just to train women, but to walk alongside them as they build resilient businesses,” said Romira Roy, Co-Founder of SEED. “This is about building a support system that outlasts the program. This support is crucial in a landscape where many women, despite their skills, hesitate to step forward. Women aren’t forthcoming when it comes to financial help. They think someone will eventually notice their work. Project Goa Sashakti EntrepreNaari helps them step into the spotlight.”
What makes this programme transformative is its deep respect for traditional food knowledge as legitimate, valuable business knowledge. From tribal cuisine to Saraswat and Portuguese recipes, the women of Goa are guardians of a unique food legacy.
Chef Avinash Martins, who will be one of the mentors to the participants, shared how tribal food reshaped his culinary outlook: “It was oil-free, gluten-free, vegan and delicious. It’s a reminder that food, done simply and with integrity, can be powerful.”
Parixit Pai Fondekar, founder of the Kamaxi Group which includes Kamaxi College of Culinary Arts, and Fierce Kitchens, a culinary incubator, emphasised the shift from job- seeking to job-creating as the obvious road ahead: “Most students don’t see entrepreneurship as a path. But if we handhold them, support them, they fly.”
As Asha Arondekar, Chairperson of GCCI’s Women’s Wing, put it: “Goa has a rich heritage,Saraswat, Portuguese, global influences. Every Goan dish tells a story. Now, let’s organise this heritage, brand it, and share it with the world.”
This fusion of tradition and modern enterprise was echoed by Malini Akerkar, renowned restaurateur and co-founder of Marai, an experiential restaurant based in north Goa; “We created a kitchen that cooks global food using local ingredients. We’ve gone beyond organic, into regeneration. It’s about how you grow, how you cook, and who you include.” In Malini’s kitchen, 50 per cent of the staff are women. One former street cleaner is now a trained chef, her journey a living example of Sashakti’s promise.
Anisha Anand, co-founder of Aurum Foods, spoke passionately about her food cart project: “We’ve distributed 100 food carts to underserved women, along with training in hygiene, business, and customer service. Empowerment is contagious.”
At its core, Project Goa Sashakti EntrepreNaari is about preserving Goa’s culinary heritage while creating economic opportunity. It’s about helping women turn recipes into revenue and ingredients into impact. “If we can simplify business for one woman with a recipe, we can unlock a generation of Goan entrepreneurs,” said Anuj Kanwar,.
