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<keyword id="6355629" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="google" source="Orion">Google</keyword> on Tuesday announced its <keyword id="14193636" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Startups-accelerator-programme" source="Orion">startups accelerator programme</keyword> that will nurture about 20 startups led by women founders in <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword>. The programme is aimed to help women founders address challenges that are unique to their experience, including fundraising, hiring and many others. The inaugural batch of Google for <keyword id="8826137" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Startups-Accelerator" source="Orion">Startups Accelerator</keyword> - India Women Founders programme will accept up to 20 women-founded/ co-founded startups in India, including startups at the minimum viable product stage, and support them through a three-month programme. The programme will place special focus on areas like access to networks, access to capital, hiring challenges, mentorship and many others which, for a variety of social reasons and low representation, prove challenging for female founders. In addition to these, the curriculum will include workshops and support around AI/ML, Cloud, UX, android, web, product strategy and growth, as well as provide access to a global community of women founders. India is the world's third largest startup capital, trailing only the US and China. It boasts over a 100 unicorns with 22 getting added to the list just in 2022, spanning verticals such as e-commerce, healthtech, fintech and many others. However, only 15 per cent of these <keyword id="3357129" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Indian-unicorns" source="Orion">Indian unicorns</keyword> have one or more women founders. "The new programme is part of a larger effort by Google towards improving the representation of women across different sections of India's digitally-trained workforce, be it entrepreneurship, professionals looking to upskill or young graduates seeking a head start on their career, with the ultimate objective of making technology universally relevant and helpful," the tech giant wrote in a blogpost. The applications for the programme are open till July 10, it added. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/corporates/news/mukesh-ambani-and-disney-to-get-into-an-intense-bidding-war-for-another-ipl-package-heres-why-it-matters/articleshow/92203554.cms">Mukesh Ambani and Disney to get into an intense bidding war for another IPL package – here’s why it matters</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/elon-musk-lost-as-much-as-mukesh-ambanis-total-wealth-in-2022/articleshow/92203221.cms">Elon Musk lost as much as Mukesh Ambani's total wealth in 2022</a>

Google to launch accelerator programme for women entrepreneurs in India

Meet the women behind some of India’s very successful startups

The Indian <keyword id="761780" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="e-commerce-market" source="Orion">e-commerce market</keyword> has experienced remarkable growth in recent years, driven by factors such as increased internet penetration, smartphone adoption, digital payments, and changing consumer behaviour. This growth has created opportunities for livelihoods and has been supported by the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) sector, which plays a crucial role in India’s economy. Contributing significantly to employment generation, economic growth, and poverty reduction, MSMEs hold immense potential. The <keyword id="44734" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="indian-government" source="Orion">Indian government</keyword>'s initiatives, such as "<keyword id="6354869" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="make-in-india" source="Orion">Make in India</keyword>" and "Startup India", and the ₹1,700-crore allocation in the budget for MSMEs’ digital infrastructure to fuel growth in these enterprises, have been in the right direction. In the grand scheme of India's retail fabric, <keyword id="35621" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="e-commerce" source="Orion">e-commerce</keyword> is only warming up. However, its potential to revolutionise how we buy and sell is an indisputable fact.The Emergence of E-commerce in India and the industry trendThe dawn of Internet accessibility fanned the flames for online trade in India. From books to electronics, gadgets to fashion wear — Indian consumers suddenly had a vast digital marketplace at their fingertips. Amid this e-commerce bull run, Flipkart emerged as a trustworthy platform for millions of customers that catered to the evolving demands of Indian consumers.With incessant tech advancements and evolving consumer behaviours, the e-commerce landscape is constantly shifting. Convenience, transparency, and personalisation will be major driving forces transforming how we buy and sell online.India’s <a href="https://www.bain.com/insights/how-india-shops-online-2022-report/">online shopper base</a> is estimated to increase to 400–450 million by 2027. 50 million new shoppers were added to the Indian e-retail market, which is ~35% growth over the online shopper base in 2020. New shoppers majorly belong to tier-3 or smaller cities and include Gen Z, a critical cohort that typically starts buying at entry price points. 3 out of 5 shoppers belong to tier-2 or smaller cities, 1 in 3 shoppers belong to low-to-middle income segments, and 1 in 3 shoppers is Gen-Z. Consumers now spend 20% more time per month on a retail platform vs last year.Flipkart’s impact on India’s e-commerce landscapeFlipkart, a homegrown marketplace platform, has been at the forefront of this transformative journey, <keyword id="65467" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="empowering" source="Orion">empowering</keyword> MSMEs and driving inclusive economic growth in the country. Given that more than 95% of MSMEs in India are micro in nature, a ready-to-go platform that Flipkart provides is immensely crucial to market the products coming out of Make in India and help them become small-to-medium in nature. Indeed, through its innovative approach and steadfast commitment to inclusion, Flipkart is inspiring a new cadre of entrepreneurs while playing an instrumental role in harnessing the true potential of India’s e-commerce maze. Today it stands as more than an e-commerce company – it’s a catalyst reshaping India's retail ecology.Over the last 15 years, Flipkart has been a transformative force in India’s e-commerce landscape.●It has driven the rapid growth of the online marketplace.●It has helped businesses embrace digital technology to increase their reach and profits.●It has contributed to economic development by enhancing India's global competitiveness.With a remarkable 220% seller growth on the platform since last year, Flipkart has earned the trust of over 14 lakh sellers— reflecting the faith that Indian MSMEs, small businesses, and enterprises have in their capabilities. Flipkart, with a registered user base of 500Mn+is well-positioned to cater to these emerging customer preferences.By bringing meaningful market opportunities to MSMEs and small businesses, Flipkart has helped promote inclusive growth by creating job opportunities, empowering women, and enabling entrepreneurship among disadvantaged sections of society.Empowering rural entrepreneurs MSMEs especially have a big role to play in providing employment opportunities, income generation, and skill development in rural areas, thereby uplifting local economies and reducing regional disparities. Flipkart, too, has been playing its part – it launched the Flipkart Samarth Program in 2019 to build a sustainable and inclusive platform for under-served domestic communities, with a special focus on uplifting and onboarding artisans, weavers, women-led enterprises, and people with disabilities.Flipkart isn't only changing how it does business; it's also making change happen in society:1.Inclusive growth: Flipkart promotes widespread prosperity by offering new opportunities to MSMEs and small businesses.2.Creating jobs: The platform supports countless livelihoods across the country.3.Empowering women: Flipkart believes in smashing glass ceilings, and its platform facilitates female entrepreneurship.4.Supporting the disadvantaged: Through its operations, Flipkart aims to uplift marginalised sections of society. Under the Samarth program, rural entrepreneurs from across the country are onboarded to the platform by securing multiple strategic engagements with state and central ministries, departments, livelihood missions, NGO partners, and entities across the country. To date, Samarth has reached out to sellers across 28 states, grown its seller entity base by 300% over the last year and has also helped entities &amp; businesses grow by 300%. By bringing millions of ambitious entrepreneurs access to a pan-India market, Flipkart Samarth is impacting more than 1.5 million livelihoods nationwide today. Paving the path for inclusive economic growthSupporting the development of MSMEs is crucial to ensure sustainable and inclusive economic growth, poverty alleviation and bridging the rural-urban divide. Thus, as India's e-commerce market continues to evolve, the collaboration between platforms like Flipkart and MSMEs will be pivotal in shaping a thriving and inclusive digital economy. Disclaimer: This article is authored by Rakesh Krishnan, Vice President and Head of marketplace, Flipkart. The opinions expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of Business Insider India.

Empowering India's e-commerce market

<ul><li>Between 2017 and 2022, the number of <keyword id="2501853" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="women-borrowers" source="Orion">women borrowers</keyword> grew at 15% CAGR, says CIBIL insights report. </li><li>Between 2017-22, the number of women seeking business loans grew 3x reflecting the growth in women-led startups. </li><li>By the end of 2022, the number of active women borrowers stood at 63 million. </li></ul>Thanks to self-monitoring and more financial discipline, women borrowers have a better credit risk profile than men. As many as 57% women borrowers had a credit score of prime and above compared to 51% of male borrowers in 2022, says a report by TransUnion CIBIL. A prime score refers to <keyword id="147901" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="credit-scores" source="Orion">credit scores</keyword> between 731 to 770, according to CIBIL. Between 2017 and 2022, the number of women borrowers grew at a compounded annual growth rate (CAGR) of 15%, while this number is at 11% for men. CIBIL also says that <keyword id="8141316" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="credit-access" source="Orion">credit access</keyword> for women has grown from 7% in 2017 to 14% in 2022. By the end of 2022, the number of credit active women borrowers – with an active line of credit — stood at 63 million. “The marked evolution of women borrowers as active participants in India’s <keyword id="1349609" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="credit-market" source="Orion">credit market</keyword> bodes well for the government’s <keyword id="107911" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="financial-inclusion" source="Orion">financial inclusion</keyword> mandates that intend to improve access to financial opportunities for traditionally underserved segments such as women,” said Harshala Chandorkar, COO of TransUnion CIBIL. The number of women who keep an eye on their credit scores is also growing. In 2022, over 8.2 million women accessed their CIBIL score and report – growing 44% over one year. “The increase in the number of women monitoring their CIBIL Score and report reflects improved financial awareness and credit consciousness. It also demonstrates that women are cognizant that credit discipline matters, and are taking proactive measures to continually improve their credit profile,” says Sujata Ahlawat, senior vice president and head – DTC Interactive, TransUnion CIBIL. After checking their CIBIL Score, 45% of them improved their credit profile. And 28% of them improved their score by over 20 points. What are women borrowing for? As per CIBIL’s annual retail credit insights survey, consumption-led credit products like personal loans and consumer durable loans are gaining popularity among women. “As more women borrowers enter the workforce and become financially independent, they are seeking credit opportunities to fulfil their life goals and aspirations,” the report said. There has also been a spurt in activity among women entrepreneurs seeking business loans. Between 2017-22, the number of women seeking business loans has more than tripled — a reflection of the growth in women-led startups. The share of women in over-all business loan portfolio too increased from 20% in 2017 to 32% in 2022. There has been an increase in the home loan segment too with a 6% growth. TransUnion’s latest study on new-to-credit (NTC) borrowers shows that the highest proportion of women borrowers availed agricultural loans and consumer durable loans as their first credit facility in 2022. The share of women borrowers among first-time credit seekers has increased from 32% in 2017 to 34% in 2022. Beyond the cities The rise in loan-seeking behaviour in women is not an urban phenomenon either. In fact, the growth has been higher in rural and semi-urban locations (18% CAGR), as compared to urban areas (14% CAGR). The overall share of women borrowers in semi-rural and rural locations has risen to 62%, marking an increase of 6% during the period. West Bengal, Rajasthan and Bihar saw the highest growth in women borrowers, as per the report. “Customised products for women borrowers across socio-economic categories, age-groups and geographic locations will further empower them to fulfil their aspirations and economic goals while catalysing steady portfolio growth for credit institutions,” said Chandorkar. As more women participate in the formal credit market, it expands the pie for credit institutions and drives financial inclusion and empowerment. SEE ALSO <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/finance/news/women-are-shaping-new-real-estate-trends-like-preference-for-bigger-homes-anarock/articleshow/98446173.cms">Women are shaping new real estate trends like preference for bigger homes: Anarock</a>

Armed with better credit scores, female borrowers grow in numbers: CIBIL

<ul><li>This startup promises relief to those suffering from nicotine addiction, Parkinsons, chronic pain and <keyword id="15418" type="General" weightage="70" keywordseo="anxiety" source="Orion">anxiety</keyword> with its <keyword id="14728" type="General" weightage="70" keywordseo="cannabis" source="Orion">cannabis</keyword> laced products.</li><li>More than 50 plus startups have mushroomed in India over the last two years after the FSSAI allowed sale of <keyword id="1957434" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="hemp" source="Orion">hemp</keyword> seed or hemp seed oil as food or ingredients in food.</li><li>Cannabidiol found in hemp products is not a psychoactive substance that gives a “high”. <keyword id="6607408" type="General" weightage="90" keywordseo="cbd" source="Orion">CBD</keyword> has medicinal properties and can be used as therapy for many ailments. </li></ul> If you are looking to kick the butt, but are finding it hard to do so, you may consider switching to “hemp rollens” – cigarettes made from cannabis leaves and flowers. And it is perfectly legal. Trost, a two-year old startup, sells a variety of products made from cannabis that promise to give relief from epilepsy, chronic pain, anxiety and even autoimmune disorders. Says Harshal Goel, Founder of Trost, a startup that produces therapeutic products derived from hemp extracts, “Cannabidiol or CBD has a plethora of benefits because it has medicinal benefits. From epilepsy to Parkinsons, CBD can help people. It also helps to manage chronic pain.” Not surprising that he has named his startup Trost – which means solace in German. Today, consumers can find solace in CBD laced chocolates and protein powders too. In 2021, the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India issued a notification that said hemp seed, hemp seed oil and hemp seed flour could be sold as food or used as an ingredient in food products provided that they conformed to stipulated standards. Following which startups are now selling hemp-based protein powders too and not just hemp-based herbal cigarettes. Ayurvedic blend of potent herbs The concept of hemp cigarettes is rooted in "Dhuma Yoga," an Ayurvedic blend of five potent herbs including cannabis, datura, henbane, vasa, and cavya - to create a distinct form of smoke therapy called Dhumapana. According to Trost, burning these herbs creates smoke that the user inhales and exhales through their nose and mouth. According to some ayurveda aficionados, this therapy can enhance respiratory health. It is not just in India that CBD is becoming acceptable. The future of cannabis was also discussed at the World Economic Forum in 2020. Traditionally, cannabis has been seen as a means of getting “high”, but researchers have also found medicinal use cases of the plant, provided the presence of psychoactive substance THC is negligible. Hemp should not be confused with <keyword id="40905" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="marijuana" source="Orion">marijuana</keyword> as it also contains negligible amounts of THC (tetrahydrocannabinol), which gives a “high.” Consumption of hemp flowers and extracts like CBD oil or hemp seed oil are legal in India, provided they do not contain 0.3% of THC. This is booming business now for more than 50 startups in India that seek to bring solace to Indians battling anxiety or chronic pain. <div type="image" title="Harshal_Trost" agency="Business Insider India" msid="103686011" hostid="261" sizebytes="102332"></div> Cannabis: A licensed business Several states in India have legalised cultivation of industrial hemp. In 2018, Uttrakhand legalised its production and soon Uttar Pradesh followed suit. In April 2023, the state government of Himachal Pradesh also decided to legalise the cultivation of cannabis to boost the local economy. The Ministry of AYUSH is also issuing licences to startups that want to offer CBD products as cures for a variety of ailments. To buy these products, you need to have a prescription from an ayurvedic doctor. Like Trost, most of the startups have mushroomed in the last few years. In 2017, Harshal Goel, then a student at City University, London, learned about Switzerland's legalisation of low-THC cannabis. Intrigued, he visited Switzerland to explore the plant's potential and legal framework. Inspired by the innovation around cannabis products like chocolates and creams, Goel launched medicinal herbal hemp cigarettes in Switzerland. After seeing the success of his venture in Switzerland, he returned to India and founded Trost to offer natural, plant-based products as therapies. If you have recently visited Thailand, you must’ve noticed cannabis shops sprouting like wild weed. The country decriminalised marijuana or ganja in June 2022 and it has given its economy, which is heavily dependent on tourism, a big boost. The decriminalisation, like in many states in the US, was first done in 2018 for medical purposes. Hemp rollens or herbal cigarettes is its most popular product because it helps smokers kick the butt, even though the experience of smoking rollens is very different from a tobacco cigarette. But Trost may be the future of the likes of tobacco majors like ITC. The promise of this pudding can be gauged from the $650 mn that Philip Morris, a global tobacco major, is committing to acquire a cannabis company based in Israel. According to reports in July 2023, Philip Morris is close to acquiring <keyword id="1609269" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="medical-marijuana" source="Orion">medical marijuana</keyword> inhaler maker, Syqe Medical, for $650 mn. This would not be the first investment Philip Morris has made in the company as it has earlier invested $20 mn in a company that offered metered inhaler doses of medical marijuana for pain management. Fastest growing plant on the planet Cannabidiol may be new to India, but cannabis is not. In fact, leaves of the female cannabis plant is known as “bhang” which is also offered to Lord Shiva. But startups like Trost are not offering that kind of solace. Trost is a D2C startup that not only offers CBD based therapies but also sells tobacco-free rollens made from cannabis Not only do these cigarettes help deal with nicotine addiction, it also promises to calm the nerves and have a relaxing effect. Industrial hemp is a botanical class of cannabis, which is often used in medicines to relieve anxiety, <keyword id="23666" type="General" weightage="70" keywordseo="stress" source="Orion">stress</keyword> and pain. No wonder, apart from bamboo, hemp is the fastest growing plant on the planet. Interestingly, hemp also contains THC but not in the same quantity as marijuana does. While Trost may be promising solace to a post-pandemic world where anxiety and stress are as common as cold and flu, these hemp startups cannot advertise. To create more awareness around their products, they are even looking at offline stores. Hemp and cannabis startups like Trost, Boheco, Happie Herb, Cannary, Wildleaf and Oreka are members of an industry body called Pan India Medical Cannabis and Hemp Association (PIMCHA) to educate governments on the benefits of medicinal cannabis and root for the industry’s cause through legal reforms.

From Weed To Wellness: Cannabis is no longer a bad word thanks to startups like Trost that promise to bring solace to users

<ul><li>The 33-year-old <keyword id="2965693" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="kanika-tekriwal" source="Orion">Kanika Tekriwal</keyword> earned her a fortune of ₹420 crore and was named as the <keyword id="14687474" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="youngest-self-made-richest-woman" source="Orion">youngest self-made richest woman</keyword> in the Kotak Hurun report list.</li><li>Initially, she too went through the rigours of starting a business as a woman.</li><li><keyword id="69127" type="General" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tekriwal" source="Orion">Tekriwal</keyword> hails from an orthodox Marwari family where girls are often discouraged from working.</li></ul>Kanika Tekriwal from Bhopal has come a long way from being mistaken for a cabin crew to becoming one of <keyword id="3658" type="General" weightage="100" keywordseo="india" source="Orion">India</keyword>’s richest female startup entrepreneurs. Her idea of offering a cloud-based solution for those who want to ‘hire’ private jets, <keyword id="2963934" type="General" weightage="80" keywordseo="jetsetgo" source="Orion">JetSetGo</keyword> is now considered a million dollar idea. The company which is popularly known as the ‘Uber of Indian skies’ earned her a fortune of ₹420 crore, as per the Kotak Private Banking Hurun Leading Wealthy Women 2021 list. The 33-year-old is also the youngest in the list, with i-banker turned entrepreneur <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/nykaas-falguni-nayar-takes-over-kiran-mazum[%E2%80%A6]e-richest-self-made-indian-woman/articleshow/93158649.cms">Falguni Nayyar</a> on the top. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="‘Miss, can you ask them for tea/coffee?’" comment="subhead" text="‘Miss, can you ask them for tea/coffee?’">‘Miss, can you ask them for tea/coffee?’</cmsannotation> Today, she is also noted amongst startup founders who made it in a male dominated world. Her online air charter service is hailed by celebrities, film stars and HNIs not just for private jets but also for helicopters and air ambulances. Initially, she too went through the rigours of starting a business as a woman. “I remember walking into a customer’s office to whom we went to pitch, I had just started my company and I was the last person to walk into the conference room. A guy turned to me and said, Miss, can you ask everyone what they want tea or coffee? and all my confidence fell on the floor immediately as I was very young. It was my first pitch ever and I wanted to cry,” Tekriwal told Business Insider India in an interview. In the earlier days of the business, when she used to hang out at airports, she was frequently mistaken for the cabin crew. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="The Marwari girl ‘discouraged to work’" comment="subhead" text="The Marwari girl ‘discouraged to work’">The Marwari girl ‘discouraged to work’</cmsannotation> Tekriwal hails from an orthodox Marwari family where girls are often discouraged from working. However, she always wanted to become a pilot, and that along with her time in the UK inspired her to start her own business. The idea to start her company, JetSetGo, came from the thought of private flying as more accessible and economical for people. Before her startup, it was a long, cumbersome process where people lost money and faced many hiccups. Her company, however, turned this process online, transparent and allowed people to ‘share’ rides. “The idea came out of the combination of prior experiences and learning where I saw what was happening in the UK and in India, and there is a big gap that needs to be fulfilled and I went about it,” Tekriwal said. The first roadblock to doing business in the air was registration. “When I wanted to register the company, the people in the registrar office didn’t want to give me the certificate of incorporation simply because it had the word ‘aviation’ in it and asked me to go and get DGCA approval. Why would DGCA give me an approval for a company? I wanted to do trading,” she highlighted. Then came another difficult period in her young life when she was diagnosed with cancer. “I had the idea brewing in my head for close to three years or so, but when I took out my sketch board and started working on it, I was diagnosed with cancer, which set me back by a year,” said Tekriwal. After she became cancer-free in 2012, she kickstarted the business with her friend, <keyword id="2963933" type="General" weightage="50" keywordseo="sudheer-perla" source="Orion">Sudheer Perla</keyword>, starting with air taxi services that provide intra-city connectivity. After ten years, she owns ten private jets after seven last year. She plans to add at least eight more aircrafts in the next three years. <cmsannotation type="cmsannotation" annotationid="Lockdown and beyond" comment="subhead" text="Lockdown and beyond">Lockdown and beyond</cmsannotation> The company also overcame tough times during the three months of the first lockdown. But it decided not to lay off staff or cut down salaries. “I used to actually wake up sweating on most days wondering till when we will be able to sustain this,” Tekriwal added. However, now that’s in the past, the aviation sector has become one of the busiest in the last few months, thanks to years of pent up demand. During the time, the company added another interesting set of jet-setting travellers – startup founder, says Tekriwal, who was amazed at the trend. Also, those who want to splurge on a private jet for leisure trips too has doubled since January 2020. “When the Maldives opened in December last year, everyone was running there on private jets. Now it's Dubai. In India, Goa, Rajasthan, and Kerala are the top leisure destinations,” she added. SEE ALSO: <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/science/health/news/all-you-need-to-know-about-the-new-langya-henipavirus-reported-in-china/articleshow/93480292.cms">All you need to know about the new Langya Henipavirus reported in China</a> <a target="_blank" class="c-link c-message_attachment__title_link" href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/most-luxury-home-sales-came-from-mumbai-and-its-suburb-thane-leads-in-affordable-homes/articleshow/93479211.cms">Most luxury home sales came from Mumbai, and its suburb Thane leads in affordable homes</a>

A startup founder was asked to do a coffee run on her first pitch, now she's among India's richest women

<ul><li>Does gender disparity still exist? Very much so.</li><li><keyword id="3658" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="India">India</keyword> ranks second in the world’s top 20 countries with the highest number of female <keyword id="1978603" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Tech-CEOs">tech CEOs</keyword>, according to a RS report.</li><li>But even with 1501 <keyword id="816468" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Female-CEOs">female CEOs</keyword>, the rate is just 5.01% of the total 29,748 tech companies.</li></ul>Women in India have shattered the glass ceiling. They are leading companies and empowering other women to break barriers and are in charge of their career. Across sectors – Bollywood, sports, lifestyle to tech and startups, women are ushering in a change in leadership. But does the gender disparity still exist? It does, and very much so. India ranks second in the world’s top 20 countries with the highest number of female tech CEOs, according to a RS report. But even with 1501 female CEOs, the rate is just 5.01% of the total 29,748 tech companies. The US ranks first with 4490 CEOs from the 2,69,431 companies making the rate of female leaders to a mere 1.67%. There are multiple <keyword id="22923" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="women-leaders">women leaders</keyword> from India who are making a mark in the global arena. Roshni Nadar Malhotra, CEO of HCL Enterprises; Nirmala Sitharaman, India’s first full-time Finance Minister; Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, CEO of Biocon; and Renuka Jagtani, chairwoman and CEO of Landmark Group. They found a place in the Forbes List of 100 most <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/nirmala-sitharaman-kiran-mazumdar-shaw-among-forbes-most-powerful-women-alongside-queen-elizabeth-and-ivanka-trump/articleshow/72513630.cms">powerful women in the world.</a> “In the tech industry specifically, women are largely underrepresented in leadership positions or technical roles. However, there are a number of women leading the way within the tech industry in sectors such as cybersecurity, consumer technology, gaming and artificial intelligence and often have a strong link to STEM,” said the report. In India, there’s opportunity for so many more women to hold leadership positions. About 40% of Indians who graduate in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) are women. But women <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/india-tops-the-world-in-producing-female-graduates-in-stem-but-ranks-19th-in-employing-them/articleshow/74117413.cms">make up for a mere 14% </a>of the 280,000 scientists, engineers in research and development institutes in India. See Also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/business/news/nirmala-sitharaman-kiran-mazumdar-shaw-among-forbes-most-powerful-women-alongside-queen-elizabeth-and-ivanka-trump/articleshow/72513630.cms">Indian Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman beats Queen Elizabeth and Ivanka Trump in the Forbes world’s 100 list of most powerful women</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/careers/news/india-tops-the-world-in-producing-female-graduates-in-stem-but-ranks-19th-in-employing-them/articleshow/74117413.cms">India tops the world in producing female graduates in STEM but ranks 19th in employing them</a>

India ranks second in the world’s top 20 countries with highest number of female tech CEOs – even at a dismal 5%

<ul><li>Zone <keyword id="6362513" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="startups">Startups</keyword> India recently concluded the empoWer accelerator program saw 18 <keyword id="74945" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Women-Entrepreneurs">women entrepreneurs</keyword> get seed funding for their business. </li><li>7 of them will go for a 1-week market access trip to Montreal by Government of Quebec.</li><li>The selected startups work on areas of Deep tech, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning among others.</li></ul>After a 6-month accelerator program, 18 female entrepreneurs got a seed funding of ₹5 lakh each at the concluding demo day of Zone Startups India empoWer accelerator program. An accelerator program is a cohort-based one which helps entrepreneurs find their way into the startup world through mentorship, networking and funding. The empoWer accelerator program’s 3rd cohort concluded on March 29 and saw women in <keyword id="6355118" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="technology">technology</keyword> take a leap in business. Over the course of 3 years, through three cohorts 24 women have got equity free seed funding from the program. "Till date we have invested just about INR 2 Crores through empoWer but, the 2 past cohorts have cumulatively raised in excess of INR 40 Crores and there have been 3 acquisitions. Being through such a program and getting grant funding, definitely puts theses entrepreneurs in good stead while pitching to other investors. It is also 'validation capital' from the program,” said Ajay Ramasubramaniam director India, Zone Startups. Of the 18 winners from the latest cohort, 7 were further awarded a 1-week market access trip to Montreal by Government of Quebec. Focusing on areas such as Deep Tech, Artificial Intelligence, Machine Learning, Enterprise Mobility, Search &amp; Feedback Engines, Enterprise Software, over the 6-month program, the founders were introduced to over 90 mentors and industry leaders. From startups that are working on a device that will analyse soil health to give a quantitative estimate of nutrients present in the soil to ones that focus on women health and hygiene and even a startup that simplifies manufacturing of steel alloys, aluminium alloys etc., there was a varied range of innovation seen as a part of the accelerator program. India is the world’s third largest startup ecosystem and still sees that <a href="https://scroll.in/article/887200/india-the-worlds-fastest-growing-startup-ecosystem-has-little-space-for-female-entrepreneurs">only 9%</a> of the startup founders in the country today are women. The Indian government has introduced several schemes like Mudra Yojana Scheme For Women which provides loans to women entrepreneurs. Recently, the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT) had decided that from the government’s<a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/more-women-take-to-entrepreneurship-launch-businesses/article26636158.ece"> Fund of Funds</a> of ₹10,000 crore, one-third of the amount will be allocated for women-led startups. See Also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/google-will-groom-these-10-indian-startups-that-use-ai-and-machine-learning/articleshow/68384856.cms">Google will groom these 10 Indian startups that use AI and machine learning</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/google-91springboard-launch-entrepreneurship-program-for-women-in-tier-ii-cities/articleshow/65337077.cms">Google, 91Springboard launch entrepreneurship program for women in tier-II cities</a>

18 Indian women just got funding for their technology startups

<ul><li><keyword id="5890319" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="Social-E-commerce">Social e-commerce</keyword> startup <keyword id="3480589" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Meesho">Meesho</keyword> has raised $125 million from Naspers. </li><li>The startup was in the news for being Facebook’s first direct investment in India. </li><li>Meesho has over 2 million ‘social sellers’ across 700 towns in India.</li></ul>Meesho, the online marketplace raised $125 million funding led by Naspers. The round also saw participation from Facebook and existing investors SAIF, Sequoia, Shunwei Capital, RPS and Venture Highway and former Vodafone Group CEO Arun Sarin. Meesho is a marketplace for resellers, which connects them with customers via social media channels like WhatsApp and Facebook. “Our social sellers are small retailers, women, students and retired citizens, with 70% being homemakers who have found financial freedom and a business identity without having to step outside their homes,” said Vidit Aatrey, Meesho Co-Founder and CEO. One of the investors of this social e-commerce startup is Facebook. It’s the first time that the global giant picked up equity in an Indian startup. “With this investment in Meesho, we want to fuel a business model that can result in rapid job creation and the rise of a female entrepreneurial class in India," <keyword id="736869" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Facebook-India">Facebook India</keyword> head Ajit Mohan had then said in an <a href="https://www.livemint.com/companies/start-ups/facebook-invests-in-bengaluru-based-meesho-1560427873327.html">interview</a>. Meesho has over two million ‘social sellers’ across 700 towns in India along with a distribution channel of 15,000 suppliers in traditional manufacturing hubs. Its focus is largely on apparel, home, wellness and electronics items. The startup intends to create 20 million entrepreneurs by 2020. With the latest investment, Meesho wants to grow its community of women entrepreneurs and also reach out to remote customers of India. The startup was also a part of the global accelerator programme Y-Combinator. It had earlier raised a funding of $65 million from Sequoia India, DST Partners and Shunwei Capital.

Facebook-backed Indian startup Meesho raises $125 million from Naspers

<ul><li>Global <keyword id="6354632" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="social-media">social media</keyword> giant <keyword id="6354576" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="20" keywordseo="facebook">Facebook</keyword> invested an undisclosed amount in Indian startup Meesho. </li><li>Meesho is a marketplace for resellers and connects them with customers via social media channels.</li><li>This is the first time Facebook has directly picked up equity in an Indian startup. </li></ul>Facebook <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2019/06/13/facebook-meesho-first-indian-startup-investment/">invested</a> an undisclosed amount in an Indian <keyword id="623994" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="social-commerce">social commerce</keyword> startup Meesho. This is the first time that the global giant picked up equity in an Indian startup. Meesho is a marketplace for resellers, and connects them with customers via social media channels like WhatsApp and Facebook. “With this investment in Meesho, we want to fuel a business model that can result in rapid job creation and the rise of a female entrepreneurial class in India," Facebook India head Ajit Mohan said in an <a href="https://www.livemint.com/companies/start-ups/facebook-invests-in-bengaluru-based-meesho-1560427873327.html">interview.</a> According to reports, Facebook was interested in Meesho because of the startup’s growing reach in Tier II and III cities, and the fact that 80% of resellers on the platform are women. “Over the last 4 years we've grown from our humble beginnings, to a community of more than 15,000 suppliers and 20,00,000 resellers throughout India. We share a common goal with Facebook - to enable the community and help small businesses grow,” Meesho founder Vidit Aatreywrote in a blog post. The startup was also a part of the global accelerator program Y-Combinator. It had earlier raised a funding of $65 million from Sequoia India, DST Partners and Shunwei Capital. Prior to this investment, Facebook had <a href="https://techcrunch.com/2014/01/07/little-eye-labs-acquisition/">acquired </a>Bengaluru-based Little Eye Labs which has a software tool for analyzing the performance of Android apps. “Facebook is an ally for India’s economic growth and social development. We are excited about India and its rapidly rising Internet ecosystem,” Mohan added. See Also: <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/facebooks-zuckerberg-says-whatsapp-can-cannibalise-public-social-platforms/articleshow/69058552.cms">Zuckerberg claims that WhatsApp has the power to 'cannibalise' public social platforms</a> <a href="https://www.businessinsider.in/facebook-pay-for-user-data-on-study-from-facebook-the-research-app/articleshow/69756443.cms">Facebook will now pay you if you give access to your phone’s data</a>

Facebook invests in Meesho showing that it will enter online e-commerce sooner than later

<ul><li><keyword id="3258662" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="Google-for-Entrepreneurs">Google for Entrepreneurs</keyword> is partnering with <keyword id="2825382" type="PERSON" weightage="20" keywordseo="91SpringBoard">91Springboard</keyword> to launch an <keyword id="107737" type="ORGANIZATION" weightage="20" keywordseo="Entrepreneurship">entrepreneurship</keyword> program across tier-II cities in <keyword id="3658" type="COUNTRY" weightage="20" keywordseo="India">India</keyword>.</li><li>The company also stated that the program is aimed at providing direction to women entrepreneurs in these cities. </li><li>The partners will also be launching the <keyword id="6355629" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="google">Google</keyword> for Entrepreneurs Lounge in <keyword id="66" type="COMPANY" weightage="20" keywordseo="Delhi">Delhi</keyword>.</li></ul>In its latest initiative in India to date, Google has partnered with 91Springboard, a coworking community, through it’s entrepreneurship initiative, Google for Entrepreneurs. According to the company, the project is <a href="https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/info-tech/google-for-entrepreneurs-partners-with-91springboard/article24633853.ece">aimed</a> at new and aspiring entrepreneurs, especially women, and will focus on providing mentorship and skills training. Earlier this year, Google for Entrepreneurs <a href="https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/small-biz/startups/google-for-entrepreneurs-techhub-expand-global-partnership-to-india/articleshow/51122183.cms">brought</a> their partnership with TechHub to India as well. It empowered local members of the tech entrepreneurs community to have access to Google’s programs and to their intellectual resources. Their plan is to launch a total of 24 programs over the span of two years in tier-II cities across the country. Cities in that segment have often been quoted as the ‘growth engines’ for the coming future. That being said, the gap between the supply and demand of employment in these cities has limited their growth. In order to expand it’s entrepreneurship network, Google for Entrepreneurs is also launching their lounge. It’s basically a hub where entrepreneurs can share ideas and collaborate on projects. They have similar lounges in Madrid, Seoul, Warsaw among other cities. Globally, the platform has around 50 partners and is involved with six campuses. 91Springboard will also integrate their network of nearly 8,000 entrepreneurs with Google’s network. The potential in tier-II cities EY’s <a href="https://www.ey.com/Publication/vwLUAssets/ey-indias-growth-paradigm/$FILE/ey-indias-growth-paradigm.pdf">report</a> from 2017 cites how 30 tier-II cities in India have the greatest potential for marginal revenue in the coming years due their untapped potential. That means there are markets and under-saturated hotspots that can drive growth. The demographic makeup of these cities also play in their favour with most people between the ages of 15-24 years, which provides a consumer base as well as business opportunities. In order to empower the entrepreneurs to exploit these opportunities, Google for Entrepreneurs’ training will focus on addressing leadership obstacles and technological solutions, running design prints and providing one-on-one mentorship for the female entrepreneurs that sign up. In recent years India has seen a host of co-working spaces pop up as well as local start-ups where some become successful while ones only have their 2 minutes in the spotlight. That being said, India’s spirit of innovation and invention is often questioned and criticized for being unoriginal. According to an IBM’s report titled, ‘Éntrepreneurial India’, 90% of Indian startups fail within the first five years. And, 77% of the time the reason that comes to light is ‘lack of innovation’.

You Searched For "female startups in india" and got 11 results

Google to launch accelerator programme for women entrepreneurs in India

IANS

Meet the women behind some of India’s very successful startups

Empowering India's e-commerce market

Rakesh Krishnan

Armed with better credit scores, female borrowers grow in numbers: CIBIL

Katya Naidu

From Weed To Wellness: Cannabis is no longer a bad word thanks to startups like Trost that promise to bring solace to users

Malini Bhupta

A startup founder was asked to do a coffee run on her first pitch, now she's among India's richest women

Vaamanaa Sethi

India ranks second in the world’s top 20 countries with highest number of female tech CEOs – even at a dismal 5%

Sanchita Dash

18 Indian women just got funding for their technology startups

Sanchita Dash

Facebook-backed Indian startup Meesho raises $125 million from Naspers

Sanchita Dash

Facebook invests in Meesho showing that it will enter online e-commerce sooner than later

Sanchita Dash

Google, 91Springboard launch entrepreneurship program for women in tier-II cities

Prabhjote Gill

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