Headstart, The Indian Express (National)
March 19, 2003

The Wadhwani Foundation, founded with the aim of accelerating entrepreneurship in emerging economies will host a nationwide competition to select 5 anchor institutions for the National Entrepreneurship Network (NEN). NEN will comprise a nationwide network of entrepreneurial development centers within leading academic institutions. The winner will be selected through a transparent multistage process, culminating in the selection of 5 winners from 15 finalists by a panel of renowned international judges which includes Sunil Mittal, Bharti Enterprises, Howard Stevenson, Harvard University, Jerry Rao, Mphasis, Naina Lal Kidwai, HSBC, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Biocon India and Harsh Mariwala, Marico Industries and Romesh Wadhwani.

The winners of the 2003 competition will receive, from the Wadhwani Foundation non-financial support and seed funding in the range of $10,000 to $50,000. The purpose of this funding is to support the development of a full plan for entrepreneurial development offerings, as well as to fund some of the institution’s current entrepreneurial activities. Based on the strength of the plans developed, the institutions will each be eligible to receive further funding of $250 to $1 million, spread over multiple years, from Wadhwani Foundation.