NICEorg and ABFRL offers mentorship, market connects and funding opportunities to cultural enterprises in the Fashion, Accessories, Home Decor and Furnishing sectors

Program Structure

1. Application through Business Plan

2.  Mentoring will be provided to cultural enterprises in various business functions to help them grow their brands

3. Explore opportunities to be onboarded / collaborate with various businesses under the broader ABFRL umbrella

4. Demo Day / Pitch Meet

– Preparing cultural enterprises to pitch to investor

– Working on the pitch deck

– Cultural enterprises showcase / pitch to Investors and other Industry

Eligibility

• Only for Indian companies or startups that are registered in India Or will be registered in India.
• Open only for startups which meet the Indian Cultural Enterprise criteria. Read more here.
• Please visit niceorg.in for more details on Values & Code of Conduct. Read the Blogs to have more clarity on cultural enterprise definition.
• Open to cultural enterprises with a minimum annual revenue of 10 lac for FY 2024 – 2025.
• Open ONLY for the founding team/ proprietor/ entrepreneur(s) and not employees.
• Startups which have not registered earlier with NICE or attended any other NICE programs are also eligible to apply.

Selection

• NICE and ABFRL team will first filter all applications to ensure that all details are available and then share applications with an independent jury comprising of Industry Experts
• The jury members will shortlist applications based on their first round of evaluation. Post this, the selected applicants will be notified of a second round of virtual interview with the jury members. Based on the scoring from both rounds, 12 cultural enterprises will be selected for the program
• The decision of the jury in selecting the 12 cultural enterprises is final and not open to any dispute in any form

Craft Accelerator Program

• Entrepreneurs must show seriousness and commitment for the entire duration of the program
• Entrepreneurs are encouraged to implement their learnings from the program into their businesses and growth plans.
• “A program calendar will be shared with all the entrepreneurs so they can block their time accordingly.

– During the offline sessions, enterprises MUST participate in all the sessions physically.

– During the online sessions, enterprises MUST participate in all the Zoom webinars. “

• Entrepreneurs will be expected to participate in all the sessions. No show will be understood as a lack of commitment. In case there is a genuine reason for absence, the program managers should be informed well in advance.
• Sessions may be added or removed based on the feedback from the Entrepreneurs.
• Mentors will conduct group and one-on-one sessions on specific entrepreneurial challenges as indicated by the entrepreneurs
• Respecting the time of the mentors and entrepreneurs is necessary. All entrepreneurs should login 10 minutes before the sessions.
• Program facilitators will be attending the sessions along with the cultural enterprises. In case of any queries or follow-ups needed, the entrepreneurs must inform the facilitators.
• “Mentors may ask tough and challenging questions that are meant to push the entrepreneurs to think differently. We encourage the entrepreneurs to be open in their communication with the mentors and take the challenges in good spirit. However, at any point, if the entrepreneurs or mentors feel uncomfortable during the interactions, the program facilitators must be informed immediately.”
• Mentor contact details will not be provided to the entrepreneurs. If the entrepreneurs wish to connect with the mentors separately, they should do so via the organizing team.
• The organizing team must be informed of all interactions between the mentors and the entrepreneurs outside the program

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