Behind every business, there is a dream. A dream to create something meaningful, support a family, solve a problem, and build a better future.
At Caterfly, we believe that every entrepreneur deserves a chance, not just those with resources, connections, or privilege, but also those with passion, determination, and the courage to begin.
We are a platform committed to supporting marginalised entrepreneurs across India's emerging markets, helping them turn their ideas into responsible and sustainable businesses. Our role is to become the bridge between ambitious individuals and the mentors, experts, and communities who can guide them forward.
Because entrepreneurship is not a journey anyone should walk alone.
Through education, mentorship, and meaningful connections, Caterfly creates opportunities for entrepreneurs to learn, grow, and overcome challenges at every stage of their journey.
Our mission is simple: "Empower individuals through education and entrepreneurship."
We aim to be a trusted companion for small business owners, standing beside them from their first idea to their growth journey, from seed to scale.
By connecting entrepreneurs with mentors, investors, industry leaders, and a supportive network across India, Caterfly is building an ecosystem where businesses grow with purpose and people grow with confidence.
Every big success story starts with a small step.
At Caterfly, we help those first steps find the right direction, so dreams can take flight.
Building a successful venture is not just about having a great idea, it requires the right knowledge, guidance, connections, and support system.
At Caterfly, we walk alongside entrepreneurs throughout their journey by providing the resources, mentorship, and network they need to transform ideas into impactful businesses.
We offer a year-long, need-based, and entrepreneur-focused training program designed to build essential business skills. From understanding market challenges to developing leadership abilities, our programs help entrepreneurs grow with confidence and clarity.
Growth becomes easier when the right guidance is available at the right time. Through our global internship programs, students from Multimedia, BBA, and MBA backgrounds collaborate with our portfolio startups, gaining practical industry exposure while contributing fresh ideas and valuable support to growing businesses.
Strong connections create stronger opportunities. Caterfly brings together a nationwide network of investors, industry experts, entrepreneurs, and young professionals, creating meaningful collaborations and knowledge-sharing opportunities.
We believe entrepreneurship grows when people learn together, support each other, and build together.
Every great movement begins with a simple belief, that when we empower one person, we create the possibility of transforming many more lives.
In 2011, Dr. Mary Conway Dato-on started Empowering Women Globally (EWG) in the United States with a heartfelt mission: to help women discover their potential, build confidence, create opportunities, and become leaders in their own communities.
EWG was built on the understanding that empowerment is not just about providing resources, it is about creating a supportive ecosystem where women can learn, connect, take risks, and turn their dreams into reality.
What started as a small initiative in partnership with Rollins College gradually grew into an inspiring global community connecting women entrepreneurs, students, mentors, and changemakers across the United States, India, and Brazil.
Through meaningful training programs, workshops, mentorship, and global collaborations, EWG has helped entrepreneurs strengthen their ideas, develop business skills, and prepare themselves for new opportunities. At the same time, students have gained invaluable hands-on experience by working alongside passionate entrepreneurs, learning that leadership is not only about success, it is about creating impact.
As the journey continued, EWG built strong partnerships with Bradley University and the University of Calcutta, bringing together education, entrepreneurship, and innovation to nurture the next generation of leaders.
The Changemaker Award became a symbol of appreciation for students who went beyond expectations, showing dedication, compassion, and the courage to make a difference.
Through its collaboration with The American Centre in Kolkata, EWG created platforms for global conversations, inspiring events, and international learning experiences that connected talented individuals with opportunities beyond borders.
For more than a decade, Empowering Women Globally has been more than an organization, it has been a family of dreamers, builders, mentors, and leaders who believe that every woman has a story worth supporting and a vision worth pursuing.
Today, EWG continues to inspire a world where women are not only participants in progress but are the creators of change.
Caterfly is proud to be the Network Partner of Empowering Women Globally in India, joining hands to support a vision where education, entrepreneurship, and collaboration create lasting impact.
Dr. Sharmistha Banerjee is a professor of business management in the University of Calcutta. Dr. Banerjee has specialised in small business management and entrepreneurship research facilitating and nurturing small business management specially in rural and under served areas is her forte with more than 2 decades of field level experience. Her passion is promoting entrepreneurs to preserve local heritage, crafts and textiles alongside introducing the latest technology to enable the local go global.
Anuj Sharma is the Founder of ALSiSAR Impact with 2 decades of experience working at the intersection of Impact investing, Social Entrepreneurship, Advocacy and Economic Resilience of local communities. Passionate about catalyzing social Entrepreneur ecosystem in South Asian Himalayan and Frontier Markets with more than a decade of focused experience in catalyzing Impact investing in the region, finding solutions for deploying capital in the most regulated underserved ecosystem of the world. He is an active angel investor in social enterprises with an active portfolio in the Himalayan and north east region (Kashmir to Kohima) and significant portfolio in South Asia's frontier market with a unique theme of 'Lighthouse Place Based Investing' to empower local communities, women and indigenous people to enable direct ownership and conservation efforts of their precious natural resources, climate change and ecosystem preservation. He has worked in 16 countries (US, Europe, Middle East, Asia)
Dr. Arijita Ditta is a development economist by training. Her ideologies of sustainable development, equality of opportunities and social inclusion are shaped by her exposure to stalwarts like Prabhat Patnaik, Utsa Patnaik, Anjan Mukherjee, Mihir Rakshit, Soumen Sikdar and Anup Sinha during her education at the Presidency College Kolkata and Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi. She specialised in economics of social sector ( health, education, gender) and forayed into entrepreneurship research that furled her passion for several women issues, like their livelihoods, empowerment and access to basic services. Her keen interest in empirical research and love for grassroot level learnings keep her integrated with the real life issues.
Strategic Senior Advisor of CATERFLY
Executive & Academic Director, Turner School of Entrepreneurship and Innovation, Professor of Entrepreneurship; Turner Chair of Entrepreneurship in Foster College of Business
Develop your entreprenural skills while boosting your career prospects with an international internship in your field
As founder of Shree boutique I really want to give special thanks to the team, Sharmistha madam, Arijita Madam and University of Calcutta for mentoring me and progressing with my business. Now they have created me: a smart business woman!
Collaborating with the team gave me a glimpse into entrepreneurial journeys of multiple organisations. This diversified experience enriched my business acumen while contributing significantly to my personal growth.
This program has helped me immensely in my business venture. It has through its numerous lessons provided me with valuable insights on product branding, improving my presentation and product display. Most importantly it has helped me in my personal development to meet present challenges.
The guidance and encouragement I received from the workshops and one-on-one mentoring were truly motivating and empowering.
Working with the program has been transformative, as it allowed me to witness first hand the profound impact of providing opportunities and support to women in diverse communities.
Surrounded by a dynamic community of dedicated experts, I harness a synergistic force that reshapes both my personal growth and business horizons.
Empowered, inspired, and ready to conquer the world.
My journey with this program not only enriched lives but also significantly enhanced my business through diversity, innovation and inclusive growth.
Business operations, marketing strategies, consumer engagement, pitching and logistics, I learnt them all. In one word, I am learning from this platform how the business operates.
Immersion to Bradley University, USA was a great opportunity providing exposure to my creativity and my personality. It took me beyond my comfort zone and made me more confident!
At Caterfly, we believe in the transformative power of responsible entrepreneurship. We're a platform dedicated to empowering marginalised entrepreneurs in frontier markets across India.
© Caterfly