This panel is a call to action. Women in the startup ecosystem—whether founders, investors, or stakeholders— could engage in a conversation that is not only still relevant but also demands urgent attention.
Join Shreyasi Singh, Shally Modi, Shanti Mohan, Minu Margeret, and Rashmi Daga, and be part of a community that has dared to dream, and rose to break barriers. This could be your opportunity to take a collective call to action to own the future and steer financial ownership until a day comes when women are only entrepreneurs; not “women entrepreneurs”. This stellar lineup of entrepreneurs, by no means exhaustive, will come together to share their learnings and wisdom with the hope of inspiring and empowering the next generations of women seeking to break barriers and build powerful businesses despite systemic biases.
With its theme, From Resurgence to Resilience, the ET Soonicorns Summit 2024 is set to catalyse discussions on sustainable growth, business reinvention, and importantly, gender inclusivity in the startup ecosystem.
In a world where the entrepreneurial landscape is ever-evolving, the gender gap in startup funding remains a significant barrier to equity and equality in the business realm. Despite strides in representation, women founders in India continue to grapple with challenges, particularly when it comes to securing funding. The summit is a critical platform that seeks to address these gaps head-on.
The panel discussion titled ‘Women in the Indian Startup Ecosystem: Breaking Barriers and Bridging the Gender Funding Gap’, has been designed to amplify the voices and experiences of women founders.
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Meet the trailblazing women who have set a precedent with their leadership roles
At the ET Soonicorns Summit 2024, the panel ‘Breaking Barriers and Bridging the Gender Funding Gap’ will explore these questions with the help of four trailblazing women leaders who have navigated these very challenges:
- Shreyasi Singh, President of Upgrad Enterprise, brings with her two decades of experience in journalism, entrepreneurship, and business reportage. Her journey from the editorial world to a leadership role in the disruptive edtech and upskilling platform speaks volumes about her ability to break through traditional expectations and carve a space for women in leadership positions;
- Shally Modi, Co-Founder and Head of Product & Revenue at Pratilipi, has similarly defied the odds. As a gold medallist and co-founder of the innovative self-publishing and reading platform, she has disrupted the literary landscape for Indian languages through her tech-enabled venture, bridging linguistic gaps;
- Meanwhile, Shanti Mohan, Co-Founder and CEO of LetsVenture, has redefined what it means to be a woman entrepreneur in the Indian startup ecosystem. Her platform, which facilitates startup investments, aims to help startups with more than just funding. Mohan’s vision extends beyond capital to building a supportive ecosystem for startups—one that also empowers women to take charge of their financial futures;
- Minu Margeret, Founder of BlissClub, has carved a niche in the activewear space by creating a community of empowered women, who are passionate about fitness and wellness. Her journey from founding a company to building a movement is a testament to the power of community building and leveraging it to overcome systemic challenges women face in entrepreneurship
- Last but not least, Rashmi Daga, Founder and CEO of FreshMenu, will bring rich insights to the table vis-à-vis her experience in scaling FreshMenu through innovative kitchen models. Since founding FreshMenu in 2014, she has grown the online food delivery service into a thriving platform that claims to process over 12,000 orders a day. Trust Daga, who has previously worked for IBM India, Johnson & Johnson Medical, and Ola, to share a valuable framework for understanding how women entrepreneurs can break through traditional funding barriers. Join us at the incisive panel as Daga will share leadership lessons in the competitive food-tech space, offering strategic insights into navigating challenges unique to women founders in the startup ecosystem.
This stellar lineup of entrepreneurs, by no means exhaustive, will come together to share their learnings and wisdom with the hope of inspiring and empowering the next generations of women seeking to break barriers and build powerful businesses despite systemic biases.
Why a women’s “funding gap” panel in 2024?
But why, in 2024, is it still crucial to have such a discussion? The rationale lies in the numbers and the narratives behind them.
A report by WISER titled ‘Women in India’s Startup Ecosystem’ highlights a glaring disparity: while women-led startups have risen to 18% in India over the past five years, only 5% of the $10 billion raised by Indian startups in 2023 went to women-led businesses. This is a sharp decline from the 9.6% of the $25 billion raised in 2022.
Such figures reveal the persistent challenges women founders face—not just in gaining visibility but in securing the vital funding needed to scale their ventures.
Systemic biases
The gender funding gap is a multifaceted issue that stems from a combination of societal, financial, and structural barriers. A recurring problem that experts point to is the “unseen bias” in lending practices, where there is a noticeable reluctance among investors and financial institutions to lend to women entrepreneurs. This bias is not always overt, but it manifests in subtle ways—whether through tougher scrutiny of women’s business models, or in the reduced size of loans granted to women founders compared to their male counterparts.
This financial hesitancy intersects with broader societal barriers. For instance, the chronic gap in women’s property ownership in India hinders their ability to leverage assets as collateral when applying for loans. In crucial moments where they seek to expand or pivot their businesses, this lack of collateral becomes an insurmountable roadblock.
Moreover, societal expectations continue to nudge women towards traditional roles, making the path to entrepreneurship even more arduous. While government schemes are in place to address the gender credit gap, the larger question persists: What more can be done to ensure women have better access to credit and financing?
ET SpecialWhy this conversation matters
The presence of these powerful voices at the ET Soonicorns Summit 2024 is more than symbolic. It’s a necessary intervention in a system that still harbours biases against women entrepreneurs. Through this panel, attendees will gain deep insights into not only the challenges but also the strategies that can help women founders succeed. Discussions will delve into fundraising techniques, navigating bias in the investor community, and the importance of resilience and strategic pivots.
But more than anything, this panel is a call to action. Women in the startup ecosystem—whether founders, investors, or stakeholders—are urged to attend and engage in a conversation that is long overdue. The insights shared will not only inspire but equip attendees with practical tools to navigate the funding landscape more effectively.
ET Soonicorns Summit 2024: Empowering the Indian startup ecosystem
The ET Soonicorns Summit 2024 is a repurposed and revamped edition that promises to deliver more than just dialogue. With a focus on recalibrating business models in a post-funding winter era, the summit is the ultimate convergence of unicorn and soonicorn founders, disruptors, seasoned investors, and policymakers.
With the overarching theme of ‘From Resilience to Resurgence’, the underlying message is loud and clear: Recalibrate. Rebound. Reinvent. These interwoven themes will echo throughout the event, as industry leaders share their playbooks for navigating the new age of AI-led disruptions and changing global dynamics.
With an emphasis on sustainable growth and strategic recovery, the Soonicorns Summit 2024 is set to spark the next wave of innovation, collaboration, and funding opportunities—especially for women founders who are ready to break barriers and rewrite the narrative.
Join the conversation. Break the barriers. Bridge the gap. Register now for the ET Soonicorns Summit 2024 and be part of a transformative movement that seeks to change the face of India’s startup ecosystem.
Be a part of this transformative event and take the next logical step to elevate your business!
upGrad is the skilling partner for the ET Soonicorns Summit 2024.
To learn more about the ET Soonicorns Summit, visit the website.
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(This article is generated and published by the ET Spotlight team. You can get in touch with them at [email protected])