Jobaaj Stories
Women-led tech startups in India have raised a total of $26 billion, ranking second only to the United States in all-time funding. The highest funding raised was $6.3 billion in 2021.
There are over 7,000 women-led startups in India, making up 7.5% of all active startups in the country. Bengaluru leads in both the number of women-led startups and the total funds raised, followed by Mumbai and Delhi-NCR.
While there have been ups and downs, India’s women-led startups continue to grow. In 2021, India saw a significant rise in unicorns (startups valued at $1 billion), with eight new unicorns. However, the momentum slowed in the following years. Despite this, women entrepreneurs keep pushing for success, with more support and mentorship needed to help these startups grow consistently.
Women-led startups in India also saw a rise in acquisitions, with 45 buyouts in 2021. However, the numbers dropped to 36 in 2022 and 25 in 2023. Last year, there were 16 acquisitions.
Five women-led startups went public in 2024, including MobiKwik, Tunwal, LawSikho, Usha Financial, and Interiors and More. These startups are not just securing funding but also changing industries and creating jobs.
In 2022, Indian women-led startups raised $5 billion, making up 15.18% of the global funding for women-led startups. Despite the challenges, women entrepreneurs in India are proving to be crucial drivers of growth and innovation.
