NICE Aarohana with Jaipur Rugs Foundation

NICEorg and Jaipur Rugs Foundation invites Home Decor and Furnishing Enterprises to a unique mentoring program

Applications for this program are closed. If you would like to apply for the next editions, please write to us at namaste@niceorg.in.

Why Should You Apply?

Network with Community

Gain Access to Investors

Get Mentored by Industry Experts

Get hands-on Experience

Gain Publicity

Who Can Apply?

  • Enterprises in the Home Decor and Furnishings Sector
  • Enterprises with a minimum revenue of INR 5 Lac per annum
  • Only for Indian cultural businesses that are registered in India
  • Only Founders and Co-founders are eligible to participate in the program
  • Selected enterprises will have to pay a program fee to participate in the program
  • Open only for startups that meet the Indian Cultural Enterprise criteria
  • Priority deadline: 15 April 2023. Selections on Rolling Basis
Learn about NICE Values & Code of Conduct

Read Terms and Conditions of the Program

Understand what is a Cultural Enterprise
Read NICE Stories to have more clarity on cultural entrepreneurship

Program Timelines

Applications Open

1 - 30 April 2023

Selection

1 - 10 May 2023

NICE Aarohana

22 May - 2 July 2023

NICE Angels Meet

8 Jul 2023

How to Apply?

  • Submit your Business Plan Deck. In case you don't have one, you can download the Business Plan template from here and follow instructions mentioned on Slide 1.
    Don't request access. You need to DOWNLOAD this template and work on that. Click here to get the template.
  • Submit your Business Plan Deck and Details about your business using this Link.
    * Incomplete Applications will not be accepted.
    * Applications that are not submitted online via the Google Form will not be accepted.
  • Upon selection, enterprises will have to pay a participation fee for INR 5000.
  • Read Terms and Conditions and NICE Code of Conduct.
    * Business plan deck submitted for your application has to be Original and not a copyright infringement of any other entity.
    * If the NICE committee discovers any dispute of copyright/intellectual property - the submission will stand cancelled.
    * Please submit only ONE application per startup/idea.

Applications for this program are closed. If you would like to apply for the next editions, please write to us at namaste@niceorg.in.

Entrepreneurs

Managing Director- Operations & Marketing

RAYUSH NATURAL FIBERS PRIVATE LIMITED

Namrata Diwaker

D2C Founder | Finance and Marketing Professional

Country Clay

Rashi Akar

Director Production and Logistics

RAYUSH NATURAL FIBERS PRIVATE LIMITED

Ravikant Soni

Mentors

Ashok Gubbi

Director Of Innovation

Supply Chain & Technology at Jaipur Living

Nitesh Chaudhary

Business Consultant for organizations and brands

handcrafted product space

Sarika Narayan

Business Mentor and Entrepreneur

Jury, NICE Aarohana Business Plan Competition

Vijay Ladha

Collaborators

FAQ

* Open to cultural enterprises in Home Decor and Furnishings space.

* This competition is open ONLY for the founding team / proprietor / entrepreneur(s) and not employees.

* Participating companies should have a minimum annual revenue of INR 5 Lac as of financial year 2021-2022.

* 1 April – 30 April: Applications Open | Create your business plan deck and share your business details. | Submit on the Website using this Google Form | Applications will be on rolling basis and selection will take place on first-cum-first-serve basis. Priority Deadline: 15 April 2023

* 1 May – 10 May: Shortlisted Finalists are informed of selection. They transfer the application fee for the program and prepare for travel to Jaipur.

* 22 May – 2 July: NICE Aarohana takes place every week in online and offline mode.

* 2 – 8 July: Preparation for pitching and NICE Angels Meet.

* NICE Aarohana with Jaipur Rugs is open only for startups which meet the Indian Cultural Enterprise criteria and belong to the Home Decor and Furnishings Sector.

* Please visit niceorg.in for more details on Values | Cultural Enterprise definition to ensure your idea and startup is a cultural enterprise. Read the blogs.

* A unique opportunity to receive mentorship from Nand Kishore Chaudhary, Founder of Jaipur Rugs and other industry experts.

* Pitch Deck Practice and Opportunity to Pitch Live to Jury of Angel Investors.

* Media Coverage and publicity.

* Customized support from NICEorg and Jaipur Rugs.

* A series of field visits, mentoring and training will be provided to selected entrepreneurs.

* The program will cover subject areas of: Entrepreneurial Mindset and Growth | Finance and Funding | Sales and Marketing | Branding | Fundraising.

* Entrepreneurs will also be mentored on how to prepare and present an investor-ready pitch deck.

* The program will culminate with NICE Angels Meet where cultural enterprises will have the opportunity to pitch live to an investor panel and raise funds.

* NICE Angels Meet is a unique program that brings together a curated pool of investors willing to invest in cultural businesses. Know more: niceorg.in/nice-programs/nice-angels-meet/.

* Participating cultural enterprises will pitch to these NICE Investors.

* Based on the discretion of the investors, these enterprises may raise funds.

* NICEorg doesn’t guarantee funding for cultural enterprises participating in this program. NICEorg will not be a party in the fundraise and willl have no stake in investors’ decision.

* This program is only applicable for startups generating revenue of INR 5 Lac minimum for the financial year 2021-2022.

* Check out NICE Aarohana and NICE Blogs to kickstart your entrepreneurial success.

* Startups which have not registered earlier with NICE or attended any Aarohana mentoring session are also eligible to apply.

* The selection is based on the pitch deck application format.

* Panel of Industry Experts and NICE team will internally process the applications.

 * Shortlisted enterprises will be informed about their selection.

* Confirmation regarding participation in the program will be given only after the shortlisted enterprises have made the payment for the program fee.

* Upon selection, you will be required to transfer the program fee to NICEorg, to confirm your participation in the program.

* There are no scholarships/discounts that NICEorg will offer to any candidate.

* Upon receiving your payment, our team will speak with you for an onboarding process.

* The program schedule and travel plans will be shared with you so you can make the booking arrangements.

* Roundtrip fight travel will be covered under the program. 

* The program will cover the cost of travel, lodging and food arrangements only for the Founder/One Co-founder. 

* Accommodation on twin-sharing basis in the JRF guesthouse and one meal will be provided in Jaipur by the organizers.

* Enterprises are expected to make their own arrangements for travel, food, accommodation (if needed) outside the scope of the program.

* NICE will ensure utmost privacy and security of all applications on password and access protected folders.

* We will delete all the applications 30 days from processing the results and hence applicants must save their original versions securely.