- Date : 16/04/2023
- Read: 4 mins
Indian women investors revolutionising the startup ecosystem.
India's startup investment scene is experiencing a significant shift, with an increasing number of female founders and investors claiming their space in the ecosystem. Pioneering women like Aarti Gupta, Anisha Singh, Deepika Padukone, Ankita Vashistha, and Anjali Bansal are spearheading this transformation.
Take Anisha Singh, the founder of She Capital, as an example. She faced challenges when trying to convince people of women's potential as successful entrepreneurs. However, after delivering impressive returns to investors, she has proven that women excel in business.
Ruchi Kalra, cofounder and CFO of Business attributes the growing presence of women in investing to their direct and honest approach. These trailblazers are setting precedents for others to follow, offering a trustworthy vision for enterprise and investment.
Let's see more of such 5 influential women investors in India's startup scene.
The 5 most influential women in Indian startup culture
Meet the 5 powerhouse women who are revolutionising India's dynamic startup landscape:
1. Aarti Gupta
Aarti Gupta is the Chief Investment Officer of VC firm DBR Ventures and the National Head of the FICCI FLO Startup Cell. She participated in investment deals for ed-tech startup Speak In and health-tech startup Medyseva in 2022.
Also Read: Best Ways To Improve Financial Security For Women
A senior chairperson of the FICCI FLO Kanpur Chapter, Aarti holds a PhD from IIT Kanpur and completed her post-graduation in economics from Northwestern University. She began her investment journey five years ago in 2017 and has invested in four tech-driven startups since then.
2. Anisha Singh
Anisha Singh is the founder of the women-focused VC firm She Capital, which was founded in 2020 with the mission of stimulating more female founders to enter India's startup ecosystem. Some of She Capital's portfolio companies include Samosa Singh, Spark Studio, Elev8 Sportz, and Nova Nova.
Anisha also founded the e-commerce platform MyDala and headed B2B startup Kinis Software as its CEO, and was previously a manager at Centra Software. Anisha Singh is a big supporter of female-led enterprises and startups and a vocal proponent of women's equality.
3. Anjali Bansal
Anjali Bansal, a notable women investor and founder of Avaana Capital, is making significant strides in India's startup investment landscape. In 2022, she funded four Indian startups, including BambooBox, Gold Setu, and Groyyo, as reported by Inc42.
Beyond these ventures, Anjali has backed startups like Delhivery, Urban Company, Darwinbox, and Nykaa, demonstrating her commitment to fostering innovation among women investors in India.
Currently, she serves on the ONDC steering committee and holds board positions at Tata Power, Nestle India, and Piramal Enterprises.
With an extensive background that includes roles at TPG Growth, Spencer Stuart, McKinsey, and Dena Bank, Anjali continues to champion entrepreneurship in the Indian startup ecosystem.
4. Deepika Padukone
Deepika Padukone, the Bollywood superstar, is an avid entrepreneur. She has five startups in her portfolio and recently founded 82°E in 2021, which received $7.5 Mn in funding from DSG Consumer Partners and IDEO Ventures.
Also Read: Understanding The Rise Of Women Investors In Crypto As An Asset Class
Through Ka Enterprises, her family office, Deepika also backs consumer and consumer-tech companies such as Epigamia, Furlenco, Blu Smart, Bellatrix, Playshifu, Atomberg, Front Row, Mokobara, Supertails and Nua. Her ambitious investments have already made a mark in the startup landscape.
5. Ankita Vashistha
Ankita Vashistha is the women's founder of Saha Fund and StrongHer Ventures. She has had extensive experience working in tech ventures, private equity, and VCs across the UK, the US, and Asia with MySpaces, Tholons Capital, NASSCOM, Aureos Capital, and Abraaj Group.
Ankita is also an active investor in Indian Angel Network, and her startup portfolio includes Licious, Uniphore, Fitternity, LoveLocal, Zumata, and Insta Health.
She is a graduate of the Ramaiah Institute of Technology and the Cranfield School of Management at Stanford University.
Final Thoughts
The accomplishments of these 5 Indian women in the startup investment space demonstrate the significant impact of female leadership and diversity in driving innovation and growth.
Their contributions, ranging from nurturing first-time entrepreneurs to making strategic investments in various sectors, have profoundly influenced India's startup ecosystem.
The takeaway from this article is that these trailblazing women serve as role models and catalysts for change, inspiring and empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs and women investors to transform further and strengthen the Indian startup landscape.
India's startup investment scene is experiencing a significant shift, with an increasing number of female founders and investors claiming their space in the ecosystem. Pioneering women like Aarti Gupta, Anisha Singh, Deepika Padukone, Ankita Vashistha, and Anjali Bansal are spearheading this transformation.
Take Anisha Singh, the founder of She Capital, as an example. She faced challenges when trying to convince people of women's potential as successful entrepreneurs. However, after delivering impressive returns to investors, she has proven that women excel in business.
Ruchi Kalra, cofounder and CFO of Business attributes the growing presence of women in investing to their direct and honest approach. These trailblazers are setting precedents for others to follow, offering a trustworthy vision for enterprise and investment.
Let's see more of such 5 influential women investors in India's startup scene.
The 5 most influential women in Indian startup culture
Meet the 5 powerhouse women who are revolutionising India's dynamic startup landscape:
1. Aarti Gupta
Aarti Gupta is the Chief Investment Officer of VC firm DBR Ventures and the National Head of the FICCI FLO Startup Cell. She participated in investment deals for ed-tech startup Speak In and health-tech startup Medyseva in 2022.
Also Read: Best Ways To Improve Financial Security For Women
A senior chairperson of the FICCI FLO Kanpur Chapter, Aarti holds a PhD from IIT Kanpur and completed her post-graduation in economics from Northwestern University. She began her investment journey five years ago in 2017 and has invested in four tech-driven startups since then.
2. Anisha Singh
Anisha Singh is the founder of the women-focused VC firm She Capital, which was founded in 2020 with the mission of stimulating more female founders to enter India's startup ecosystem. Some of She Capital's portfolio companies include Samosa Singh, Spark Studio, Elev8 Sportz, and Nova Nova.
Anisha also founded the e-commerce platform MyDala and headed B2B startup Kinis Software as its CEO, and was previously a manager at Centra Software. Anisha Singh is a big supporter of female-led enterprises and startups and a vocal proponent of women's equality.
3. Anjali Bansal
Anjali Bansal, a notable women investor and founder of Avaana Capital, is making significant strides in India's startup investment landscape. In 2022, she funded four Indian startups, including BambooBox, Gold Setu, and Groyyo, as reported by Inc42.
Beyond these ventures, Anjali has backed startups like Delhivery, Urban Company, Darwinbox, and Nykaa, demonstrating her commitment to fostering innovation among women investors in India.
Currently, she serves on the ONDC steering committee and holds board positions at Tata Power, Nestle India, and Piramal Enterprises.
With an extensive background that includes roles at TPG Growth, Spencer Stuart, McKinsey, and Dena Bank, Anjali continues to champion entrepreneurship in the Indian startup ecosystem.
4. Deepika Padukone
Deepika Padukone, the Bollywood superstar, is an avid entrepreneur. She has five startups in her portfolio and recently founded 82°E in 2021, which received $7.5 Mn in funding from DSG Consumer Partners and IDEO Ventures.
Also Read: Understanding The Rise Of Women Investors In Crypto As An Asset Class
Through Ka Enterprises, her family office, Deepika also backs consumer and consumer-tech companies such as Epigamia, Furlenco, Blu Smart, Bellatrix, Playshifu, Atomberg, Front Row, Mokobara, Supertails and Nua. Her ambitious investments have already made a mark in the startup landscape.
5. Ankita Vashistha
Ankita Vashistha is the women's founder of Saha Fund and StrongHer Ventures. She has had extensive experience working in tech ventures, private equity, and VCs across the UK, the US, and Asia with MySpaces, Tholons Capital, NASSCOM, Aureos Capital, and Abraaj Group.
Ankita is also an active investor in Indian Angel Network, and her startup portfolio includes Licious, Uniphore, Fitternity, LoveLocal, Zumata, and Insta Health.
She is a graduate of the Ramaiah Institute of Technology and the Cranfield School of Management at Stanford University.
Final Thoughts
The accomplishments of these 5 Indian women in the startup investment space demonstrate the significant impact of female leadership and diversity in driving innovation and growth.
Their contributions, ranging from nurturing first-time entrepreneurs to making strategic investments in various sectors, have profoundly influenced India's startup ecosystem.
The takeaway from this article is that these trailblazing women serve as role models and catalysts for change, inspiring and empowering the next generation of entrepreneurs and women investors to transform further and strengthen the Indian startup landscape.
