Bhubaneswar: A four-day women's entrepreneurship workshop started here on Wednesday.

Organised by TiE Global, in partnership with the US Embassy, it is part of the All India Roadshow on Women's Economic Empowerment through Entrepreneurship (AIRSWEE), a marquee programme for economic empowerment of women through entrepreneurship in 30 Tier-2 and 3 cities in India.

The four-day workshop is being organised in Bhubaneswar, Lucknow, Hubuli, Baroda and Patna. Each location has invited four states to take part and a total 150 participants have been chosen. "My journey as an entrepreneur has been long and opportunities such as this one help me take a step back and focus on how much more I could do to empower and inspire people around me," says Sophia from Odisha who works in the field of tourism.

Seema Chaturvedi and Caroline Lewishave have come to India from the US to mentor the workshop. Consul-general Katherine Hadda also attended the event.

The selected US-based mentors will work with their Indian counterparts to share best practices, experience and knowledge with the women participants from Calcutta, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh and other cities of the state.

Seema Chaturvedi said: "We are seeking to create a significant multiplier effect by creating a pay-it-forward culture by requiring each of these 150 participants to mentor at least two women each."

Katherine Hadda, the consul-general in Hyderabad, said: "The US government's objective through this programme is to tap into this amazing potential women in second tier cities have, to encourage them, to support them, to help them network, to mentor them to believe in themselves, not only to launch a start-up but to reach commercial success."