India’s Women-Led Startups Surge - News

In the dynamic landscape of India’s startup ecosystem, a recent report from Women in India’s Startup Ecosystem Report (WISER) highlights the notable ascent of women-led startups, reaching 18 percent over the past five years. In 2017, among approximately 6,000 startups, 10 percent were led by female founders. Fast forward to 2022, and with an exponential increase to 80,000 startups, the share of women-led startups surged to 18 percent.
The report delves into the unicorn realm, revealing that out of 105 startups achieving unicorn status in 2022 (up from 13 in 2017), the share of women-led unicorn startups rose from 8 percent to an impressive 17 percent. Venture capital funding for Indian startups witnessed substantial growth, reaching US$ 21.9 billion in 2022, up from US$ 5.9 billion in 2017. 
Notably, funding allocated to women-led startups increased from 11 percent to 20 percent during this period. While startups outpace corporate firms in fostering gender diversity, the report emphasizes the need for continued efforts to bridge existing gaps and ensure sustained growth in women-led startups over the next decade.