Breaking Barriers, Building Futures: Dolphin Tanki by Salaam Bombay Foundation Continues to Empower Budding Entrepreneurs from Resource-Challenged Backgrounds

Mumbai, 14th March 2024: Salaam Bombay Foundation (SBF), a non-profit organisation empowering resource-challenged adolescents, in collaboration with the School of Business Management at NMIMS, is proud to announce the third edition of ‘Dolphin Tanki’ – the flagship platform of the Foundation’s Entrepreneurship Incubator for Grassroots Adolescents. Dolphin Tanki is a part of Salaam Bombay Foundation’s Entrepreneurship Incubator and these programmes have been recognised as a youth centric solution by Yuwaah India at Unicef and 10to19 Dasra Adolescents Collaborative as part of their Joint Call For Solutions Initiative. Slated to take place on 16th March 2024 in Mumbai, the third edition of Dolphin Tanki will showcase a new cohort of resource-challenged budding entrepreneurs with incisive business ideas across sectors including Beauty & Wellness, Bakery & Confectionary, Electrical and Electronics Appliance Repair, Photography, Choreography and Fitness. These aspiring entrepreneurs have been mentored by students of SBM, NMIMS, via the ‘We Care – Civic Engagement Internship’ program ensuring a collaborative learning experience that promises to transcend boundaries.

Till date, over 150 adolescent entrepreneurs have been nurtured via the Entrepreneurship Incubator since its launch in July 2021. Trained beneficiaries (SBF’s vocational skill development programme) showcasing a potential to earn are selected for the Incubator. As first steps, they are nurtured, groomed, mentored (by industry experts, established entrepreneurs), and taught business acumen. They are also introduced to critical strategies like digital marketing and digital payments. As and when these entrepreneurs are ready to scale their businesses they are mentored and groomed by students from the School of Business Management, NMIMS via the ‘We Care – Civic Engagement Internship’ program. The entrepreneurs are then ready to pitch at Dolphin Tanki. Post winning, the entrepreneurs continue to receive handholding guidance and support from SBF.

Commenting on the event, Mr. Gaurav Arora, Chief Growth Officer and Sr. VP, Salaam Bombay Foundation, said, “At Salaam Bombay Foundation, we believe in nurturing every dream, ensuring that no aspiration goes unnoticed. By catering to the entrepreneurial needs of adolescents aged 16-20, we bridge the gap often overlooked by the larger entrepreneurship ecosystem. Initiatives like ‘Dolphin Tanki’ are transformative, empowering young entrepreneurs like Pooja Gupta aged 18 from Bhandup. Through this program, she secured INR 40,000 in funding support, enabling her to establish her makeup and hair artist venture in 2019, and dreams to open her own Make-Up studio. By investing in the entrepreneurial potential of young people, we believe in creating a better future, as our programs exemplify the power of youth to drive positive social change.”

Dr. Meena Galliara, Director, Jasani Center for Social Entrepreneurship & Sustainability Management, SBM, NMIMS said, “Dolphin Tanki is an event that celebrates innovation and provides opportunity for budding entrepreneurs between 16 to 20 years from resource-poor communities to set up their business. With ingenuity and the right support, these startups can become the engines of progress, lifting themselves and their communities. The event is a step towards developing inclusion in the Startup India movement”.