Startup Landscape Growth
In the past five years, India’s startup ecosystem has witnessed significant growth, expanding from 6,000 startups in 2017 to 80,000 by 2022.
The proportion of women-led startups has grown from 10% in 2017 to 18% in 2022, indicating a notable increase in female participation within the entrepreneurial landscape.
Unicorn Companies and Female Leadership:
The report highlights an increase in the number of unicorn companies in India, with 105 startups achieving unicorn status in 2022, up from 13 in 2017.
Notably, the proportion of these unicorn startups led by women has risen from 8% in 2017 to 17% in 2022, showcasing the growing prominence of female leaders within the startup community.
Funding Landscape:
The venture capital funding for Indian startups surged from $5.9 billion in 2017 to $21.9 billion by 2022.
The funding allocated to women-led startups increased from 11% in 2017 to 20% in 2022, indicating a positive trend in terms of financial support for female entrepreneurs.
Gender Dynamics in Startups vs. Corporates:
The report highlights a significant difference in gender representation between startups and traditional corporate firms.
In managerial positions, startups have 32% female representation compared to 21% in corporates. At the CXO level, startups have 18% women in leadership positions, while corporates have only 5%.
Startups with female founders also exhibit more gender-inclusive hiring practices, with 2.5 times more women in senior roles compared to those founded by men.
Persistent Challenges:
Despite the progress, the report emphasizes the existence of challenges that still impede gender parity within the startup landscape.
Long-term career trajectories show that while 8 out of 10 men in startups occupy director-level positions or higher after a decade, only 5 out of 10 women attain similar roles, indicating a significant disparity in career progression.
Conclusion:
The data presented in the WISER report signifies the encouraging rise of women-led startups in India’s entrepreneurial ecosystem over the past five years. The increased representation of female entrepreneurs, along with a notable rise in funding allocation for women-led ventures, reflects a positive trend toward gender inclusivity and diversity within the startup community.
However, despite these advancements, the report underlines persistent challenges, including discrepancies in long-term career trajectories and representation at the highest organizational levels. Therefore, it calls for continued efforts to address these disparities and foster a more equitable and inclusive environment for women in entrepreneurship, ensuring sustained growth and empowerment within the Indian startup landscape.
