Women entrepreneurs in India are significantly shaping the country’s dynamic startup scene. The Indian Startup Funding Report 2024 by Inc42 reveals a striking 93.75% increase in funding for women-led ventures, which raised approximately $930 million (around Rs 7,900 crore) through 136 deals, compared to the previous year. This surge is part of a broader trend, with nearly half of India’s 1.57 lakh startups under the Startup India initiative being led or co-led by women.
Key Sectors Powering Growth
Fintech and e-commerce have emerged as the leading sectors for women-led startups. Fintech secured the largest share of funding with $266.91 million across 17 deals. E-commerce followed closely, with 53 deals totaling $212 million. Other sectors such as enterprise tech, healthtech, and cleantech also saw considerable investments, showcasing the evolving sophistication of India’s startup landscape.
Empowering Female Investors and Supportive Ecosystems
Women are not only founding businesses but are also playing a key role as investors. With more women-backed investment initiatives like the Women in Digital Economy Fund (WiDEF), which launched in 2024 with a $10 million commitment, female investors are contributing to closing the gender gap in the startup ecosystem. Leading investors such as Divya Anand, Swati Nangalia Mehra, and Ghazal Alagh are helping propel more women to expand their ventures.
IPOs and Future Prospects
The rise in women-led ventures is also reflected in the increasing number of companies going public. In 2024, 13 new-age companies raised over Rs 29,200 crore through IPOs, signaling the maturity of India’s startup ecosystem. While women-led startups have yet to make a major impact in IPO listings, the increasing number of female entrepreneurs is expected to lead to more women opting for public share sales in the near future.
