SAP Labs India, Deloitte, and Arise Ventures Launch 2025 Startup Studio Cohort to Boost Women-Led AI Startups

Ahead of International Women's Day, SAP Labs India, Deloitte, and Arise Ventures Announce Joint Startup Studio Cohort to Accelerate Women-Led Innovation and Business Transformation

In celebration of International Women's Day, SAP Labs India, Deloitte and Arise Ventures announced the launch of the 2025 Startup Studio Cohort, a strategic initiative designed to identify, support, and accelerate high-potential, women-founded and women-led tech startups in the Consumer Package Goods Retail and Government & Public Services (G&PS) sectors. This initiative underscores the joint vision of SAP Labs India, Deloitte and Arise Ventures to foster co-innovation and drive business transformation while fostering diversity within the startup ecosystem. The startups shortlisted for this year's cohort include AgriPilot.ai, MedySeva, Intelekt AI, Prodoc AI, Avysh, and QpiAI. Bringing together SAP's enterprise technology leadership, Deloitte's industry expertise and Arise Venture's deep understanding of the startup ecosystem, the cohort will equip entrepreneurs and startup leaders with mentorship, go-to-market (GTM) support, and access to an extensive network of industry leaders and investors. The program is designed to help startups build scalable business models, and develop cutting-edge solutions that enhance operational efficiency, business growth, and customer experiences. They will also benefit from structured guidance, strategic mentorship, and the resources needed to successfully commercialize their solutions and drive measurable business outcomes. A structured evaluation framework will ensure that participating women-led startups deliver real-world impact, helping clients optimize costs and accelerate digital transformation through technology-driven solutions. Sindhu Gangadharan, MD, SAP Labs India, highlighted the diversity imperative in the tech startup space, "Technology startups in India are building world-class solutions that are not just transforming business processes, but redefining industries at scale. With technologies like AI, however, it's crucial to have diverse perspectives and insights to ensure accurate, bias-free outcomes. At SAP Labs India, we believe that diversity is a powerful multiplier of innovation, and through this initiative we are enabling and empowering women-founded and women-led startups to build a more inclusive and dynamic future for the tech industry." "When we envision the future of business solutions, we recognise the role of startups in leading this space with their innovation and agility. With this initiative, we aim to provide empowerment to these startups with our industry knowledge and access to leaders. This will enable them to develop innovations that drive identified sector-wide growth. We look forward to collaborating with the startups in association with Arise ventures and work towards creating meaningful impact through SAP technology guidance," said Romal Shetty, CEO, Deloitte South Asia. Ankita Vashistha, Founder & Managing Partner at Arise Ventures, reinforced this mission, stating, "At Arise Ventures, we are investing in and accelerating early-stage tech startups. With SAP Labs India and Deloitte, we are arming the boldest founders with the tools, networks, and firepower they need to scale, disrupt, and lead. We help build the bridge between startups and enterprises, unlocking global markets and creating pathways for innovation at scale. It's about giving women-led startups the resources, partnerships, and platforms to scale their impact like never before. The next generation of unicorns will be built here. At Arise Ventures and StrongHer, we are here to tilt the scales -- to ensure that women-led startups don't just participate in the future but define it." With this initiative, SAP Labs India, Deloitte and Arise Ventures reaffirm their strategic focus on accelerating innovation, fostering collaboration, and strengthening the global startup ecosystem. By merging enterprise technology expertise with industry-leading advisory capabilities, and startup knowledge, the Startup Studio Cohort aims to create a lasting impact by building a diverse and inclusive innovation landscape, transforming industries, and driving business success. About SAP SAP's strategy is to help every business run as a sustainable intelligent enterprise. As a market leader in enterprise application software, we help companies of all sizes and in all industries run at their best: 87% of the world's total global commerce touches an SAP® system. Our machine learning, Internet of Things (IoT), and advanced analytics technologies help turn customers' businesses into sustainable intelligent enterprises. We help by providing people and organizations with deep business insights and foster collaboration that helps them stay ahead of their competition. SAP simplifies technology for companies so they can consume SAP software the way they want - without disruption. Our end-to-end suite of applications and services enables business and public customers across 25 industries globally to operate profitably, adapt continuously, and make a difference. With a global network of customers, partners, employees, and thought leaders, SAP helps the world run better and improve people's lives. For more information, visit www.sap.com About Deloitte Deloitte provides industry-leading professional services to nearly 90% of the Fortune Global 500® and thousands of private companies. Our people deliver measurable and lasting results that help reinforce public trust in capital markets, enable clients to transform and thrive, and lead the way toward a stronger economy, a more equitable society, and a sustainable world. Building on its 175-plus year history, Deloitte spans more than 150 countries and territories. Learn how Deloitte's approximately 457,000 people worldwide make an impact that matters at www2.deloitte.com/in. About Arise Ventures Arise Ventures is a global venture capital firm accelerating early-stage technology startups to transform industries and drive global impact. With a focus on Consumer, Climate, and Enterprise innovation -- alongside emerging technologies like Generative AI -- Arise enables visionary founders to scale and disrupt markets. We have invested in 50+ startups over three funds globally and have leading unicorns in our portfolio with more than 15B in value. Through its flagship Arise Accelerator, one of the largest capital-backed programs, and the StrongHer Initiative, dedicated to advancing women-led startups, Arise provides the capital, mentorship, and strategic partnerships necessary for founders to thrive. With a deep commitment to innovation and inclusivity, Arise connects startups with Fortune 500 clients, top-tier investors, and global technology leaders, ensuring they have the resources and networks to scale rapidly. Arise's proprietary deal flow, expertise in AI and emerging tech, and global innovation network spanning Silicon Valley, India, and beyond position it as a driving force in venture capital. By fostering collaboration and equipping founders with tailored support, Arise Ventures accelerates groundbreaking solutions that create lasting impact.

SAP, Deloitte, and Arise Launch Studio Cohort for Women-Led Startups

This year's cohort includes AgriPilot.ai, MedySeva, Intelekt AI, Prodoc AI, Avysh, and QpiAI SAP Labs India, Deloitte, and Arise Ventures have launched the 2025 Startup Studio Cohort, an initiative aimed at supporting and scaling women-founded tech startups. Announced ahead of International Women's Day, the program focuses on fostering inclusive innovation in the Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG), Retail, and Government & Public Services (G&PS) sectors. This year's cohort includes AgriPilot.ai, MedySeva, Intelekt AI, Prodoc AI, Avysh, and QpiAI, startups developing AI-driven solutions and digital transformation strategies. Selected startups will receive mentorship, go-to-market support, and access to investors and industry leaders, helping them scale operations, enhance business efficiency, and create measurable impact. The program combines SAP Labs India's enterprise technology leadership, Deloitte's industry expertise, and Arise Ventures' startup acceleration capabilities. It is designed to equip women-led startups with resources to commercialise solutions, optimise costs, and drive digital transformation. "With AI, it's crucial to have diverse perspectives to ensure bias-free outcomes. At SAP Labs India, we believe diversity is a powerful multiplier of innovation," said Sindhu Gangadharan, MD, SAP Labs India. Deloitte emphasised how startups are driving business transformation. "With this initiative, we provide startups with industry knowledge and access to leaders, enabling sector-wide innovation," said Romal Shetty, CEO, Deloitte South Asia. Arise Ventures, which focuses on early-stage startups, aims to bridge the gap between startups and enterprises. Ankita Vashistha, founder & managing partner, Arise Ventures, emphasised on supporting bold women founders with tools and networks among other things to help them lead and disrupt the ecosystem. Beyond mentorship and funding access, the startup cohort studio offers a structured evaluation framework to ensure participating startups deliver real-world business impact.