Meet these emerging women entrepreneurs bridging the gender gap in India's startup ecosystem

Women entrepreneurs in India are making a mark like never before. Over the past decade, more women have stepped into the startup world, leading companies across technology, finance, healthcare, and sustainability.

While entrepreneurship was once a male-dominated space, today, women-led startups are not only gaining traction but also attracting significant funding.

According to a Tracxn report, India has emerged as the second-largest ecosystem for women-led startups in terms of all-time funding in the tech space, surpassing most countries except the United States (U.S.).

The report, titled 'Women-led Startups in India Report 2025', highlights that Indian startups with women founders have collectively raised $26.4 billion to date, with 2021 being the peak year, attracting $6.3 billion in funding.

Currently, India is home to over 7,000 active women-led startups, accounting for 7.5% of all active startups in the country. Bengaluru leads as the primary hub for women-driven startups, followed by Mumbai and Delhi-NCR, both in terms of startup volume and total capital raised.

In 2024, India ranked third globally for funding raised by women co-led startups, after the U.S. and the U.K., contributing 3.96% of the total global funding for women-led ventures.

It's worth noting that the government initiatives, venture capital interest, and changing societal perceptions have played a crucial role in this shift. Programs like Stand Up India, Women Startup Program by NSRCEL (IIM Bangalore), and the Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) by NITI Aayog have empowered more women to take the entrepreneurial leap.

As of October 31, 2024, a total of 73,151 startups with at least one woman director have been recognized under the Startup India Initiative. This represents nearly half of the 1,52,139 startups supported by the government, showcasing the crucial role women play in driving innovation and economic growth.

However, challenges remain. Women founders still struggle to secure investments, overcome industry stereotypes, and balance personal and professional responsibilities—especially those from Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. Despite these obstacles, their perseverance is shaping India's startup ecosystem and driving real impact.

On International Women’s Day, it’s important to celebrate the achievements of these trailblazers. With that being said, here is a list of emerging women entrepreneurs who are making significant strides and breaking barriers in one of the world's fastest-growing startup ecosystems.

Note: This is not a ranking of women entrepreneurs. The names of women startup founders are listed in alphabetical order.

1. Aarti Gill – Co-founder of OZiva

Aarti Gill is the co-founder of OZiva and FitCircle. Founded in 2016, OZiva is a plant-based nutrition brand that provides a range of products, including gut health supplements, hair care, skin care, protein powders, and vitamins and minerals.

She holds a B.Tech in Electronics Engineering from IIT Roorkee (2004-2008). She later pursued an MBA from INSEAD (2011-2012), serving as Co-President of the INSEAD Consulting Club and a member of the INSEAD Entrepreneurship Club.

So far, the startup has raised over $17 million in funding from investors. In December 2022, multiple media reports stated that Hindustan Unilever Limited (HUL) acquired a 51% stake in OZiva.

2. Aditi Gupta – Founder of Menstrupedia

Aditi Gupta is an alumna of the National Institute of Design, Ahmedabad, and has been a menstrual educator for over 12 years. She is the Managing Director of Menstrupedia, a company that provides menstrual health education through comics and workshops.

She has been featured in Forbes India 30 Under 30 and was named one of BBC's 100 Most Influential Women in 2015. Notably, she also appeared on Shark Tank India Season 1.

3. Ankita De – Co-founder of Utsav

Ankita De is known for blending technology with devotion for Indian users. She is the co-founder and chief marketing officer (CMO) of Utsav, a platform that allows users to book pujas, receive prasad via home delivery, and consult priests online.

Founded in 2021, the platform reports approximately three lakh organic monthly website visits and has partnered with over 60 temples across northern, eastern, and western India.

Notably, her startup has raised over Rs 8 crore in funding from notable investors, including India Quotient and Equanimity Investments.

Ankita is also the co-founder of Applex Technologies that provides technical support and consultation for startups, individuals and corporates.

4. Dipalie Bajaj and Nidhi Panchmal – Co-founders of Arva Health

Dipalie Bajaj and Nidhi Panchmal are the co-founders of fertility care startup Arva Health that provides comprehensive, patient-first reproductive care. The startup provides at-home fertility testing, expert consultations, IVF, egg freezing, and fertility coaching, supporting individuals and couples at various stages of their fertility journey.

In February 2025, the duo raised $1 million in a pre-seed funding round to launch India’s first network of tech-enabled fertility clinics. 

Dipalie Bajaj completed a Certificate in Entrepreneurship Essentials from Harvard Business School Online in 2019. She pursued User Experience Design and Human-Computer Interaction at the Savannah College of Art and Design from 2014 to 2018, where she co-founded FLUX, the UX/UIX Club at SCAD. Prior to that, she attended Inventure Academy.

Prior to co-founding Arva Health, Nidhi Panchmal worked at Earlsfield Capital Partners as part of the Investment Team. She has also worked at Global Women in VC.

5. Veda Gogineni and Sai Sudha G – Co-founders of Earthful

IIT Kharagpur alumnae and sisters Veda Gogineni and Sai Sudha G co-founded Earthful, a plant-based nutrition brand dedicated to offering 100% natural supplements, free from chemicals and additives.

In February 2025, the Shark Tank India-featured startup raised Rs 5 crore in funding from seasoned entrepreneur Srinivasan Namala. Over the next three years, the duo aim to build a Rs 500 crore brand.

Prior to founding Earthful, Veda worked at Meesho, Deutsche Bank, Merilytics Inc., and MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology (LMB). On the other hand, Sudha worked at GVV Constructions, Uber, Urbantouch, and ITC Limited. 

6. Gazal S Kalra – Co-founder of Nuuk

Gazal S Kalra co-founded D2C home appliance startup Nuuk with Shalabh Gupta, former chief growth officer at smart wearables brand Noise. Nuuk focuses on building design-first high-performance home appliances that cater to the needs of millennial and Gen Z customers.

Its product range places a strong emphasis on modern aesthetics, useful features, and easy-to-use technology. 

She is also the co-founder of Rivigo, a tech-led logistics startup. Gazal worked at Public Health Foundation of India, McKinsey & Company, Switch Labs, and has been the Chief of Staff (Parliamentary Associate) to Member of Parliament, India.

Gazal completed her Bachelor of Technology (B.Tech.) from the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi in 2007. She later pursued a Master of Business Administration (MBA) at the Stanford University Graduate School of Business. Simultaneously, she earned a Master’s in Public Administration (MPA) from the Harvard Kennedy School.

7. Jyoshna Reddy – Co-founder of Careerpedia

Jyoshna Reddy is the co-founder of edtech startup Careerpedia and Inkprog Technologies. Careerpedia helps in transforming education and empowering learners to achieve their goals. 

The startup's courses are designed to be practical and give hands-on experience with the help of internships based on real-world projects and scenarios that prepare students for the challenges and opportunities at the workplace.

Jyoshna’s role extends to supporting startups, where her strategic acumen and entrepreneurial spirit shine. Additionally, as a project lead at the Startup Leadership Program, Hyderabad Chapter, she further contributes to fostering innovation and growth in the startup community.

8. Kanika Tekriwal – CEO of JetSetGo

Kanika Tekriwal has more than a decade of experience in the aviation industry. She is the founder and CEO of JetSetGo, a private jet concierge service, making private aviation more accessible in India.

According to DNA India, Kanika’s net worth stands at Rs 420 crore. In 2021, Tekriwal made it to the Hurun Rich List as the youngest richest woman in India. She has been featured in BBC 100 Women, Forbes 30 Under 30, and got a title of "The Sky Queen" by Entrepreneur.

9. Khanak Gupta – Co-founder of Sohrai

Khanak Gupta co-founded Sohrai, a brand that transcends skincare, ignites change and enriches lives. The startup focuses on creating high-quality skincare products primarily using the "Mahua" tree's natural ingredients, which is significant to tribal communities in India. 

It also aims to empower these communities by providing sustainable income through the collection of Mahua seeds while incorporating the ingredient into their luxurious skincare line, often featuring traditional tribal art designs on packaging.

Khanak pursued a BSc in Management, Business Administration, and Management from The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). After her undergraduate studies, she earned an MSc in Entrepreneurship and Entrepreneurial Studies from Babson College. During her time at Babson, she was awarded the Babson Dean’s Scholarship and recognized as the Babson Best All-rounder Award recipient.

10. Minu Margeret – Founder of BlissClub

ISB Alum Minu Margeret co-founded BlissClub in 2020 to provide the Indian market with innovative athleisure wear. The startup designs activewear specifically for Indian women.

Prior to founding Blissclub, Margeret worked at PhonePe, Unilever, Anheuser, Wipro, and Goldman Sachs.

According to CrunchBase, BlissClub has raised over $20 million in funding from notable investors, including Eight Roads Ventures, Elevation Capital, and Stride Ventures, among others. 

11. Namrata Asthana – Co-founder of Blue Tokai

​Namrata Asthana co-founded Blue Tokai Coffee Roasters with her husband in 2012 after identifying a gap in the availability of freshly roasted, high-quality Indian coffee beans for domestic consumers.

Since then, Blue Tokai Coffee has significantly influenced India's specialty coffee scene by connecting consumers directly with local coffee farmers. ​

Namrata holds an Associate of Arts degree in Digital Communication and Multimedia from The Art Institutes in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Before venturing into the coffee industry, she amassed experience in communications and design. She worked as a Communications Manager at PepsiCo India and later served as the Communications Director at the Centre for Development Finance.

Govt designates International Women’s Day 2025 as a national event

The Women and Child Development (WCD) Minister, Annapurna Devi, previously announced the theme ‘Viksit Bharat with Nari Shakti,’ highlighting the country’s goal of transitioning from women’s development to women-led development while ensuring their equal participation in the nation’s progress.

The WCD Ministry emphasized the significance of International Women’s Day as a global platform to recognize women’s achievements across various domains, including national, ethnic, linguistic, cultural, economic, and political spheres.

आइए, माननीय महिला एवं बाल विकास मंत्री श्रीमती अन्नपूर्णा देवी के साथ जुड़ें और गर्व व उत्साह के साथ महिला दिवस पर नारी शक्ति के अद्भुत योगदान का सम्मान करें!#SheBuildsBharat@Annapurna4BJP | @savitrii4bjp | @PMOIndia | @EduMinOfIndia | @MSJEGOI | @PIBWCD | @MIB_India pic.twitter.com/tqqbtu26dP

— Ministry of WCD (@MinistryWCD) March 6, 2025