- The number of women-led startups in India has grown from approximately 6,000 (10%) in 2017 to 80,000 (18%) in 2022, marking an 8% increase in the past five years.
- Out of these 80,000 women-led startups, 105 became unicorns, with a valuation of over $1 billion, during the same period.
- Women founders of Indian startups have experienced a 20% increase in funding, from $5.9 billion in 2017 to $21.9 billion in 2022-YTD 2023.
- Startups are leading the way in promoting gender diversity, with 32% of women holding managerial positions in startups compared to 21% in traditional corporate firms. In CXO-level roles, startups have 18% women in leadership positions compared to just 5% in corporate firms.
- While the progress is notable, there is still work to be done to bridge gender gaps in leadership roles. At the director-level or higher positions, 8 out of 10 men in startups occupy these roles compared to only 5 out of 10 women.