NEW DELHI — Nearly 73,151 startups in India now have at least one woman
Director -- nearly half of the 1,52,139 startups supported by the government,
thus showcasing the crucial role women play in driving innovation and economic
growth, a government statement said on Tuesday.
Women entrepreneurs are emerging as radiant beacons of
innovation and resilience, transforming industries and breaking barriers with
their visionary leadership, according to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry
statement.
The government has implemented several flagship schemes
to promote women-led startups, it said, adding that INR 3,107 crore has been
invested in 149 women-led startups through Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs).
Since its inception in April 2021, the Startup India Seed
Fund Scheme (SISFS) has approved INR 227.12 crore in funding for 1,278
women-led startups.
Operational since April 2023, the Credit Guarantee Scheme
for Startups (CGSS) has guaranteed INR 24.6 crore in loans for women-led
ventures, said the ministry.
Since its launch in 2016, the Startup India Initiative,
driven by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT),
has been a game-changer in fostering entrepreneurship in the country.
The Centre has also implemented comprehensive measures to
empower women entrepreneurs and strengthen the ecosystem for women-led
startups, like a 10 per cent allocation for women-led startups reserved under
the Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS), managed by SIDBI.
Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) led by women are
eligible to be considered for a higher level of management fee (0.1 per cent
per annum).
“The women capacity development programme (WING)
workshops create a conducive environment to share best practices and
experiences in overcoming challenges and to gain insights learned from the
business models adopted in the Indian context,” the ministry informed.
Startups led by women are thriving across more than 600
districts in India's tech ecosystem. More than half of the startups in these
districts are being led by women.
