Rural Entrepreneurship Playbook
Rural Entrepreneurship Playbook
Entrepreneurship
Playbook
Building Rural Dreams: A guidebook to Entrepreneurship
Table of Contents
The entrepreneurship resource book have been collaboratively developed by the Genpact
Better World Initiative Team—Sheetal Dave, Arpita Choudhary, Ritika Parwal, Krithika Rai,
Deepti Tiwari, and Rachna Mohan. Their efforts were further enriched by valuable inputs
and suggestions from the Transform Rural India Team—Neeraj Ahuja, Shree kant Kumar,
Ankit Rawat, and Abhishek Singh.
These solutions are designed based on the principles of Design Thinking & Lean Six Sigma
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How to use the Playbook
This playbook is designed to provide a structured approach to business development and is
complemented by an Excel based Toolkit that includes essential templates for each phase which
comes as Annexure to this document.
Key Features of the Playbook & Toolkit:
Each phase in the playbook is linked to relevant Excel templates, ensuring practical application of
concepts. The name of the templates from the toolkit has been mentioned in respective phases
and topics, highlighted with Orange color.
•Customizable Templates: The toolkit provides ready-to-use templates that organizations can
modify based on their specific requirements and goals.
•Structured Guidance: The templates act as step-by-step guides, assisting in planning, execution,
and tracking business progress.
•Scalability & Adaptability: The playbook and toolkit can be used across different business models
and sectors, making them a flexible resource for entrepreneurs.
By leveraging the playbook along with the Excel Toolkit, organizations can streamline their business
development process, improve efficiency, and drive sustainable growth.
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Understanding Rural Entrepreneurship 1/2
- Among non-retail and non-wholesale businesses, prominent types included tailors and dyers (19%), small hotels and
eateries (12%), commercial drivers (8%), small appliance repair shops (6%), and auto garages (5%)
- The premier source of finance for starting a business in rural India seems to be borrowing capital from friends and
family/relations. Only one in five were started with bank loans
Source : https://devalt.org/storage/app/public/uploads/resources/pdf_1680076387.pdf. The survey covered a total of 20 states across all six zones of the country, utilizing a
telephone-based approach.
The sample was primarily drawn from the Sambodhi Panel, which consists of nearly 40,000 curated phone numbers from rural Indian households.
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Phases of Rural Entrepreneurship
The journey of a rural entrepreneur is often filled with challenges, resilience, and inspiring success stories. Each
phase of this process map is designed to address specific challenges faced by rural entrepreneurs and provide
them with the necessary tools, skills, and support to succeed.
Community Discovery of
Need Training & Ideation and Launch & Tracking &
Mobilization Potential
Assessment Skill Business Eco-system Success
Business
& Awareness of aspirant Development Planning support Indicators
Ideas
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Community Mobilization
& Awareness
Community Mobilization & Awareness
Objective:
➢ To actively connect with community members and involve them in various initiatives and programs
➢ To spread information, raise awareness, and mobilize people to participate in youth hub-led entrepreneurship
services\
➢ To collaborate with local leaders and organizations to ensure that initiatives are relevant and beneficial to the
community.
Why is it important ?
• Able to map the community to identify key stakeholders and/or target participants
• Select the type of workshop required, identify when the workshop will be conducted, the interested parties and the
resources required for an impactful workshop
• Gather data to assess the needs and interests of potential participants
• Develop personalized outreach strategies for youth and women, ensuring inclusivity
How to initiate outreach activities?
Communication & Messaging
1
Planning & Strategy Engagement activities
Development 5
Points to be considered
Host community events: Use digital platforms to spread Conduct door-to-door/group survey
- Workshops awareness using the Survey Template
- Town halls
- Consultations
Create Mass awareness by engaging Conduct targeted awareness Create awareness with the support
with: of local youth influencers
- Community Refer to the Targeted Awareness
- Local government guideline
- Local influencers Refer to the Youth Influencer
guideline to learn more about the
Refer to the Mass Awareness process of identifying and
guideline onboarding of youth influencers
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Discovery of
Potential Business Idea
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Discovery of Potential Business Idea
Objective
Selecting the right business idea is the most crucial step in an aspirant’s entrepreneurial journey.
The Business Idea Discovery Process is a structured, step-by-step approach to identifying viable business opportunities
for rural entrepreneurs. It ensures that business ideas are regionally relevant, aligned with the entrepreneur’s persona,
and validated for feasibility. This process helps rural youth and women systematically explore business options that are
both economically viable and personally fulfilling.
Why is it important ?
By following this structured approach, aspirants will:
• Gain clarity and confidence in selecting a business idea.
• Choose an idea that is practical, profitable, and aligned with community needs.
• Be better prepared for entrepreneurship through self-awareness and market validation.
• Detailed components of Business Idea Discovery Process
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Process - Discovery of Potential business ideas
Process :
•Identify key people who can provide insights at village level example – Sarpanch, School principal, VO team
•Conduct focused group discussions with that group
•Identify key economic activities, gaps in goods/services, and challenges faced by the community.
Discussion Topics
▪ What services or products are most needed in our community?
▪ What challenges do people face in starting or running a business?
▪ Are there ways the community can pool resources to overcome barriers?
▪ Are there successful businesses nearby villages that serve as examples?
▪ What resources do people already have (e.g., land, skills, time)?
▪ Is there an opportunity available that can be turned into a business? (eg: excess cultivation of banana can be converted to
banana powder and exported, a local famous art which can be used to make products and sold outside)
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Step-2 Business Idea Discovery workshop
Purpose
The Business Idea Discovery Workshop is designed to help aspirants generate, refine, and select viable business ideas. It
provides structured guidance through presentations, interactive exercises, and group discussions to support individuals who
need help identifying a business opportunity that aligns with their skills, interests, and market demand.
Process
1. Pre-Workshop Preparation (1 Week Before)
a. Organization inform participants and confirm attendance.
b. Logistics planning: venue, materials, refreshments (if applicable).
Workshop
c. Ensure all workshop materials (presentation, worksheets, case studies) are ready. Presentation
Process
Refer – Business Idea Compendium in Excel Toolkit for list of successful potential rural businesses
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Need Assessment of
Aspirants
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Need Assessment of Aspirants
Objective
A Needs Assessment helps identify the specific challenges and opportunities faced by aspiring entrepreneurs in rural areas.
This phase collects information on their economic background, existing skills, access to resources, personal goals, and
local market dynamics.
Why is it important ?
•Understanding Aspirant Persona & Aspirations – Identifies skills, interests, and goals to align with suitable opportunities.
•Creating Self-Awareness – Helps aspirants recognize their strengths, gaps, and potential career paths.
•Providing Personalized Guidance – Enables the organization to suggest the right business ideas and support systems.
Process – The Skill Gap Analysis Questionnaire evaluates multiple aspects of an aspirant’s profile, including their
family background, education, existing skills, financial capacity, business attributes, and aspirations. The aspirant
is required to complete this questionnaire and share it with the organization. This assessment fosters self-
awareness in the aspirant and enables the organization to provide informed guidance on their future path.
Refer – Skill Gap Analysis
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Why is it important ?
After reviewing this process, you will be able to:
• Design a custom training program for the aspirant based on their existing skills
• Provide various online training links to further enhance the skill set
• Empower them to understand the financial requirements for setting up the business
• Provide post-training support in creating personalized business plan
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Training & Skill Development
Identifying the specific skills and knowledge gaps
Offer hands on opportunity for of the aspiring entrepreneurs. Assess the local
market demands and align training programs to
aspirants to apply what they have 4.Skill 1. Need address those needs.
learned, such as local projects, Application Assessment
internships or business simulations
3. Assistance in
2. Curriculum
Training
Development or Design trainings based on the needs and market
enrolment and
Training demand or partner with other organization who can
Training
Conduct training programs or assist Partnerships train the aspirants
the aspirant in registering with the Delivery
partner training organization
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Training – Support
Training links for specific trades and learning entrepreneurship in English & Hindi are provided in the final toolkit which is attached
in the annexure. Other online training materials that are available at the below websites:
Activity Details
Entrepreneurship Rural Self Employment Training Institutes (RSETI): RSETIs provide free entrepreneurship development training to unemployed youth aged 18-45.
Training They focus on self-employment and skill development tailored to local demands.. More information can be found on the RSETI website
National Institute of Securities Markets (NISM): NISM offers free online courses on financial literacy, including topics such as investment,
savings, and financial planning, in Hindi. Link: NISM Financial Literacy
Financial DigiSaksham (Financial Literacy for Digital Payments): A free course offered by Digital India to help rural entrepreneurs and the general
Literacy Training population become financially literate, especially in digital financial services. It is available in Hindi.
Interested individuals can enroll in the DigiSaksham courses through the National Career Service (NCS) Portal. This portal serves as a one-stop
solution for employment-related services in India.For more information and to access the courses, visit the NCS Portal
Skill India - Soft Skills Training: The government’s Skill India initiative provides free online courses for soft skills development, such as
Soft communication, problem-solving, and teamwork, in Hindi.
Skills Development
Link: Skill India Soft Skills Courses
SWAYAM (National MOOCs Platform): SWAYAM offers free online courses on various topics, including entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and
Online soft skills. Many courses are available in Hindi.Link: SWAYAM
Learning Platform NPTEL (National Programme on Technology Enhanced Learning): NPTEL offers high-quality courses for entrepreneurs,
including management, financial literacy, and soft skills development. Some of the courses are available in Hindi.Link: NPTEL
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Training – Support
An extensive list of training resources has been compiled in the Excel Toolkit,
covering both common entrepreneurship training and trade-specific programs
such as Basic Electronics, Mobile Repair, and more. This ensures that aspirants
have access to relevant skill development opportunities tailored to their business
needs.
Why is it important ?
After reviewing this process, you will be able to:
• Understand the pre-requisite on setting up the ideation workshop
• Help the aspirants to perform the Trade assessment and Market research
• Assist the aspirants in creating business plan, financial planning and create a business execution plan
• Understand how to track the performance of the aspirants and provide additional support
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Business Ideation, Planning & Launch
Workshops where Conduct assessments to Creating a business plan Financial planning tools like
participants brainstorm and evaluate the feasibility of various ensures they have a break-even analysis play a
refine their business ideas. trades based on local market roadmap and have crucial role in projecting the
Business ideation to be needs, available resources, and projected all the costs, financial health of a rural
filled by aspirants. participant skills. capital required, market enterprise. By estimating
Trade Selection framework will analysis and future income. costs, revenue, and cash flow
Refer Business Ideation help the participants to select the Investors and lenders projections, aspirants can
Template and Trade right trade or sector as per their require a business plan to assess the feasibility of their
Assessment & Selection existing skills assess the viability and business idea and identify
in toolkit potential of your venture potential sources.
Refer Market Trend Template, before committing capital
Competitive Analysis, Competitor Refer Profit & Loss, Break even
information in toolkit Refer Start up in toolkit & and Cash flow framework in
below embedded template toolkit
Business Plan
Template for Rural Entrepreneurs.docx
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To provide a Basic Business Checklist to ensure all critical steps—legal setup, financial planning,
government scheme utilization, and market strategies—are in place before launch. Additionally, a
mentoring ecosystem will support first-time rural and women entrepreneurs with guidance, problem-
solving, and strategic insights for sustainable business success.
Why is it important ?
•Stronger Business Foundation – Entrepreneurs launch with a clear roadmap, ensuring all critical aspects like
registration, finance, and marketing are covered.
•Access to Government Support – Entrepreneurs leverage relevant government schemes for funding, subsidies, and
policy benefits.
•Market-Ready Enterprises – Businesses start with well-defined marketing strategies, improving visibility, customer
reach, and early traction.
•Sustained Growth & Support – A structured mentorship network provides ongoing guidance, enhancing problem-
solving, confidence, and long-term business success.
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Business Launch
The final step of execution and launch is crucial after securing finance, ensuring all
preparations are complete. By systematically reviewing each step, entrepreneurs
can confidently launch their enterprise, minimizing risks and ensuring a smooth
start.
Refer Business Set up check list & Marketing Strategies under Business Launch &
Eco system support phase in toolkit.
•The Govt Schemes Template in the Toolkit provides a structured list of available schemes that aspirants can
benefit from.
•The organization should continuously update this database with new and relevant schemes to ensure
aspirants have access to the latest opportunities.
•Guidance can be provided on eligibility, application processes, and utilization of these schemes to
maximize benefits.
Mentorship Program for Early-Stage Support - Mentors play a crucial role in shaping an aspiring
entrepreneur’s journey by providing guidance, industry insights, and practical solutions at various stages
of business development. For rural youth, who often lack exposure, business networks, and prior
experience, the right mentorship can be the difference between an idea and a successful enterprise.
•Establish a mentorship network by reaching out to experienced local business owners, incubation
centers, and industry professionals. Refer the attached SOP for mentorship.
•Create a structured mentorship program offering six months of initial support to guide rural
entrepreneurs through challenges.
•Implement a mentee feedback system to assess the impact of mentorship and refine the program for
better outcomes. Refer – Mentor Feedback template (can be created as a google form)
Tracking &
Success Metrics
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Tracking & Success Metrics
Objective
Tracking some critical key indicators provides a structured approach to assessing the progress, impact, and
effectiveness of the entrepreneurship program in a rural setup.
By systematically monitoring key metrics, the program can: Measure Program Progress – Track participation,
business formation, and sustainability.
Why is it important ?
• Assess Impact – Evaluate financial access, job creation, income growth, and inclusivity of women and youth.
• Identify Gaps & Improve Interventions – Strengthen training, mentorship, funding access, and market linkages.
• Enhance Stakeholder Decision-Making – Provide data-driven insights for funders, policymakers, and advocacy
efforts.
• Ensure Continuous Improvement – Maximize program effectiveness and build a sustainable rural entrepreneurial
ecosystem.
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What do you measure success? 1/2
• Increase in household income of entrepreneurs
1 • Number of entrepreneurs successfully retained business for a certain period (1 year, 3 years, 5 years etc.)
• Number of rural entrepreneurs expanded business beyond local markets
Economic & Market
penetration • % of rural entrepreneurs with new product lines or increase in number of clients/customers
3 • Number of rural entrepreneurs with new skills through training & mentorship programs
Skill Development
and Knowledge
Transfer
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What do you measure? 2/2
• Satisfaction levels of rural entrepreneurs with the support they receive, such as mentorship, access to markets, or
4 financial services
• How the local community views the businesses; whether they see them as drivers of positive change, job creators, and
Satisfaction & contributors to local development
Perceptions
• % of households of entrepreneurs with changes in living conditions (access to better healthcare, education, and
infrastructure)
5 • % of marginalized groups (such as women, youth, and disadvantaged communities) involved in entrepreneurial
Social & activities and their empowerment through education, skills, and leadership.
Environmental
• Efficient utilization of local resources promoting conservation of water, energy, and other natural resources.
Impact
• The extent to which rural entrepreneurs take advantage of government schemes, grants, and policies designed to
6 support rural entrepreneurship
• The degree to which entrepreneurs in rural areas adopt modern technology, such as digital tools for marketing, e-
Adoption commerce, supply chain management, and communication.
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How do you measure ?
By consistently tracking these metrics, the program can make data-driven decisions, improve its
interventions, and ensure long-term success for rural entrepreneurs.
➢ Ministry of Rural Development (MoRD)- promoting programs like the Rural Self Employment Training
Institutes (RSETIs) Rural Self Employment Training Institutes
➢ Pradan Mantri Mudra Yojana (PMMY) Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojna| National Portal of India
➢ Startup India promoting startups in rural India through funding and mentorship programs Startup
India
➢ Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship (MSDE) MSDE
➢ Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) that fosters innovation hubs Atal Innovation Mission (AIM) | Government
of India’s flagship initiative
➢ National Bank for Agricultural & Rural Development (NABARD) NABARD
➢ Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana- National Rural Livelihood Mission (DAY-NRLM) DAY NRLM eGov
Application - Ministry of Rural Development | Government of India
➢ Entrepreneurship Institute of India Entrepreneurship Development Institute of India
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References:
Non-Government initiatives:
➢ Grameen Foundation- empowering rural poor women by promoting entrepreneurship and access to financial
services grameenfoundation.org
➢ Barefoot College- training women, especially grandmothers, to become solar engineers, fostering
entrepreneurship & sustainability Barefoot College
➢ Rural India Supporting Trust (RIST)- supporting rural entrepreneurship & providing grants for development
initiatives RIST
➢ Hindrise Foundation- providing entrepreneurship resources, training & access to markets HindRise
➢ The India Development Foundation (IDF) IDF
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Annexure
Entrepreneurship
Toolkit