JHARKHAND, September 23, 2026 — NIIT Foundation’s ChangeMaker Academy has successfully empowered aspiring entrepreneurs from underserved communities to establish and run over 50 small businesses. Since the initiative’s inception, more than 180 participants have enrolled, launching enterprises across diverse sectors such as food, education, healthcare, retail, beauty and wellness, and sustainable products.

The ChangeMaker Academy pairs core entrepreneurship modules with hands-on mentorship, leadership development, and practical training. Participants gain critical skills in business planning, pricing, sourcing, customer engagement, and daily operations, while also being introduced to responsible practices like sustainable sourcing and waste reduction.

Highlighting the program’s real-world impact, participants like Dimple from Delhi and Rebati from Jamshedpur have successfully turned their visions into viable livelihoods:

Dimple (Delhi): Transitioning from a call center role, she leveraged the academy’s operational and pricing guidance to launch Swad Niwaas, a thriving cloud kitchen. “ChangeMaker Academy helped me look at my idea not just as a dream, but as something that could become a real business,” she shared.

Rebati (Jamshedpur, Jharkhand): A homemaker from Laal Bhatta, she acquired crucial decision-making and planning skills to open Saurav & Shubho General Store. “As a homemaker, I never imagined that I could become an entrepreneur… Today, I proudly run my own store, creating a livelihood for my family,” Rebati noted.

Speaking on the initiative, Tulika Mehra, National Head – Innovation at NIIT Foundation, emphasized that effective entrepreneurship programs must extend beyond theory. “For individuals who want to pursue entrepreneurship, it is important to build confidence, decision-making abilities, and a practical understanding of what it takes to run a business,” Mehra stated.

The initiative aligns with NIIT Foundation’s broader mission to bridge the gap between learning and livelihoods for youth, women, and marginalized groups. Established in 2004 as a NCVET-recognized not-for-profit education society, NIIT Foundation operates across 28 states and three Union Territories, delivering skill development, digital literacy, and community empowerment initiatives.