Women and IT: exploring opportunities

BANGALORE: While more women in rural India have taken to micro-credit to start new ventures, the number of women entrepreneurs in the IT industry is very few. Could it be that risk averseness increases as one moves up the pyramid?

This question was raised during a TiECon panel discussion on "Targeting the Indian Woman." The session also featured IT products that could be targeted for women.

Revathi Kasturi, who heads Tarang Software, said that TiE had recently started a women's forum to motivate women in IT to take up entrepreneurial roles.

Rajeev Agarwal, founder and CEO, Innoviti, which designs IT products for consumers, shared his experiences in designing a new woman-centric product. "IT products are conventionally designed and marketed keeping men as target customers. We found through study that designs based on product usability aspects can lead to exclusive women centric design."

Innoviti has come out with a mobile accessory that also doubles up as an attractive fashion statement for women. Called Mita, the product helps users receive calls. "Indian women find it inconvenient to carry mobile phones due to their dressing preferences," said Agarwal. He said that the product has been received well.

On the issue of how IT is helping women in micro finance, Vikarm Akula, founder and chairman, SKS Microfinance, said that his organization used Management Information Systems (MIS) to reduce risk and lower the transaction cost. He also added that SKS would start pilots along with VISA for cashless transactions using mobile point of sales.

Uma Reddy, chairperson, training, AWAKE, said that simple training courses in using a computer to send email and set up web pages could improve the marketing capabilities of women entrepreneurs. "IT has a huge role to play as technology tools to enable women in setting up enterprises."