The 5th Season of Sakthi Masala ‘Homepreneur Awards 2022’ conducted the interview for the shortlisted candidates on the 23rd & 24th of July, 2022 at Savera Hotel, Chennai

Mrs Suhasini Maniratnam, the Indian actress, director, producer, and writer was the chief guest of the jury interview and launched the interview process of the 5th season of Sakthi Masala Homepreneur Awards 2022 (‘Suyasakthi Virudhugal’), a platform providing recognition for women engaged in home-based ventures in the country. It is an initiative by Brand Avatar, an integrated marketing communications, and brand & event management solutions company. Mrs Suhasini Manirathnam addressed the homepreneurs and shared her best wishes for the interview. She added that women had always been into business even during early years and encouraged more women to participate and utilize the platform.

Mr. Sivarajah Ramanathan, Mission Director and CEO, Tamil Nadu Startup and Innovation Mission (TANSIM), took part as the guest of honor. He mentioned that projects like these would further benefit women, as very less percentage of business ventures started by women are being aided. The Jury interview also attracted the participation of eminent personalities from industries, academia, government, and social service organizations.

Talking about Sakthi Masala Homepreneur Awards, Mr. Hemachandran, Founder & CEO, Brand Avatar, said, “Women have always been the contributing members of our society. In addition to discharging their household duties, they support their families economically by operating small or medium businesses from their homes. They also take up work as freelancers. These homepreneurs make a world of difference to the local community by creating and supplying quality products and services. Given a right platform to grow, they could scale their venture and become business leaders. We have instituted the Homepreneurs award to bring to the limelight the silent yet significant contributions women make to the society and the economy.”

Sakthi Masala Homepreneur Awards (Suyasakthi Viruthugal) seeks to provide a platform to recognize and celebrate the women who have chosen to pursue their passion through entrepreneurship from home. Any woman earning through homepreneurship, was eligible to apply for the award under the following categories:

Agriculture, Healthcare, Home Retail, Arts & Culture, Sports & Fitness, Food & Beverage, Digital Homepreneur, Beauty & Wealth, Education & Literature, Media & Entertainment, Social Welfare & Differently Abled, Home Professionals, Technology, NRI/Outside Tamil Nadu.

The 5th edition of the Sakthi Masala Homepreneur Awards has received over 2000+ applications from across Tamil Nadu, the rest of India and from countries outside India . Around 60% of the applications received were from other cities of Tamil Nadu. Over 500 home-based business women applications were shortlisted for Interview Round on 23rd and 24th of July from

9.30 am to 4.30 pm to evaluate the story, business growth and impact of the Home-based business women. Several Homepreneurs appeared for the jury interview, they were from different regions of India including Karnataka, Maharashtra, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, West Bengal.

The eminent jury panel for the Sakthi Masala Homepreneur Awards 2022 comprises women achievers from different fields who include:

1. Aruna Subramaniam, Management Consultant & Trustee, Bhoomika Trust
2. Hema Rukmani, CEO, Thenandal Entertainment
3. Jayasree Vummidi, Managing Director – The Lotus Group; Correspondent – GRT Schools
4. Krithika Radhakrishnan, Arkay Production
5. Lakshmi Ravichander, Founder, Event Art
6. Latha Rajan, Founder, Ma Foi Strategic Consultants
7. Madhu Saran, Founder, River NGO
8. Manimekalai Mohan, Founder, SSVM Institutions, Coimbatore
9. Nina Reddy, Joint Managing Director, Savera Hotels
10. Prasanna Vasanadu, Founder and CEO, VR Derma Pvt. Ltd.
11. Poornima Ramaswamy, Designer, Stylist and Entrepreneur
12. Radha Sanjeev, Chief Operations Officer, Glosel Group
13. Rathna Sivaraman, Entrepreneur and Media Personality
14. Ravoofa H.K, Media Mason
15. Rinku Mecheri, social entrepreneur, Founder, Chennai Volunteers
16. Rukmini Thiagarajan, Director – Chennai One IT Sez
17. Saranya T. Jaikumar educational psychologist
18. Saundarya Rajesh, Founder-President, Avtar Career Creators & Flexi Careers India
19. Shiny Surendran, Accredited Sports Dietitian, IOC & SDA
20. Shylaja Chetlur, Actor, Entrepreneur, Media Professional, Shylaar Productions
21. Srinisha Maran, Chairperson, Bharath University & Sree Balaji Medical College
22. Sushila Ravindranath, Senior Journalist
23. Veena Kumaravel, Co-founder, Naturals Salon
24. Vimalarani Britto, Entrepreneur, Educationalist, and Social Reformer

This year Sakthi Masala Homepreneur Awards has tied-up with StartupTN (TANSIM), an initiative of the Government of Tamil Nadu, nurturing a benevolent entrepreneurial ecosystem in the State. StartupTN will provide a free acceleration programme to a minimum of 20 and maximum of 30 deserving home-based entrepreneurs, shortlisted based on the StartupTN’s eligibility criteria and policies, and transform them to startup entrepreneurs. StartupTN will consider providing a grant up to Rs.10 lakh for each of the promising startups provided the startup mandatorily meets all the set eligibility criteria of StartupTN.

Jury from TANSIM’S StartupTN

 Akila – Project Lead, TANSIM

Sakthi Masala Homepreneur Awards also provides college going girls a platform to share their entrepreneurial ideas, and plans to start, execute and scale up their dream ventures through Sakthi Masala Homepreneur Awards Student edition in association with YI – Young Indians. This initiative has recognised the best ideas presented by the students. Any college-going girl or woman student was eligible to apply. Student entrepreneurs from over 35+ colleges from different cities of Tamil Nadu have applied and appeared for the jury interview. The top 3 winners will be awarded with cash prizes worth Rs. 1 Lakh from GRT Institutions – GRT Mahalakshmi Vidyalaya

Jury from YI – Young Indians, Chennai Chapter

 Vidya Ragu – a YI Member, Founder Himalaya Calling, Skillsgurucool, Womens Bilateral Mastermind – Global Conversations platform on Entrepreneurship

1. Kavya – Co-founder, Advay Capital, Associate Member of Institute of Chartered Accountants of India

Selection process 

• The applications were received from June 7th to July 2^nd,
• The first level of shortlisting was done by the winners of the previous editions of Homepreneur Awards on July 03,
• The top shortlisted candidates will be interviewed by the esteemed jury during the jury interview which is taking place on July 23 & 24,
• The panels of esteemed Jury members will shortlist nominated women based on: uniqueness of the business, social impact, business challenges, scalability, family impact, and progress &
• The selected winners from each category will be presented with the award at a grand ceremony which is scheduled to be held in Chennai on 28 August,

Below are the prestigious sponsors and partners who have joined hands to successfully execute the event this year.

Sakthi Masala, The queen of spices as the household name among the millions today, is the title sponsor of Homepreneur Awards 2022. The event is powered by SSVM Institutions, A school milieu that creates confident, self-assured learners; GRT Jewellers, one of India’s foremost jewellery stores; Sree Balaji Medical College and Hospital, providing excellent medical education. Student edition is specially powered by GRT Mahalakshmi Vidyalaya, nurturing young minds. The Associate sponsor being Milky Mist, always extending hands towards better nutrition.

The proud reach partners for the event are Ficci Flo Chennai, TIE Chennai & Qube Cinemas. Digital Partner – Right Frequency. Technology partner – Xtracut. Chai partner – Chai Kings. Food partner – Junior Kuppanna. Camera partner – Slipin Hub.

Sakthi Masala Homepreneur Awards is unique in the sense that it honors home-based business women, instead of corporate talents. The award was instituted in 2017 and so far four seasons have been held. The first three ceremonies took place at Chennai, while the 4th one went digital. It is to be noted that the company has conceived and is conducting several magnificent events including Pride of Tamil Nadu Awards, Fashion Premier Week Village Ticket, Celebrity Badminton league etc.