Women have emerged as a major force in India’s startup ecosystem, which has undergone a remarkable transformation in recent years. Nearly half of the 1.57 lakh+ startups recognized under the Startup India initiative are led or co-led by women, signalling a significant shift in the entrepreneurial landscape.
2024: A Landmark Year for Women-Led Startups and Funding Growth
The year 2024 was a landmark for women-led startups, as funding for these ventures saw significant growth. In the first half of the year alone, women-led startups raised over $523 million, marking an 81% year-on-year increase. By year-end, the total funding surpassed $930 million, reflecting a 93.75% rise compared to the previous year.
Fintech led the funding race with $266.91 million, accounting for 28.7% of the total, followed by e-commerce, which raised $212.04 million, and enterprise tech with $130.20 million. While fintech saw the highest funding, e-commerce led in deal volume with 53 transactions. Healthtech and cleantech also made significant contributions, securing 11% and 14.1% of the total funding, respectively.
Empowering Women Entrepreneurs: Key Drivers and Initiatives Shaping the Future
The rise of women-led direct-to-consumer brands, healthcare, and social impact ventures are key factors driving this shift. Women leaders, such as those at YogaBar and other successful startups, are reshaping the sector. Furthermore, an increasing number of female investors, like Divya Anand, are focusing on talent, scalability, and experience rather than gender alone, contributing to the growth of women-led ventures.
Initiatives like the Women in Digital Economy Fund (WiDEF), launched in 2024 with a $10 million commitment, are supporting this change. The fund aims to empower women by improving their access to digital tools and e-commerce platforms, helping to bridge the gender gap in the tech space.
Women Investors Shaping the Future of India’s Startup Ecosystem
The growing presence of women investors, including Swati Nangalia Mehra and Ghazal Alagh, is playing a pivotal role in driving the success of women-led ventures and shaping the future of India’s startup ecosystem.
