ET Startup Awards 2026: Nominees for Woman Ahead

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We are back with the 12th edition of The Economic Times Startup Awards. As we approach the main event, here are the nominees in one of the eight categories: Woman Ahead.

This award recognises women entrepreneurs who have built their own ventures and are competing with the best in the industry. To qualify, nominees must be serving as CEOs of their startups, unless there is no one with a CEO designation.

Here are the nominees:

Pallavi Shrivastava

Designation: CEO and cofounder, Progcap

Founded in: 2017

Based in: New Delhi

Key investors: Peak XV, Tiger Global, Google

Claim to fame: Progcap was founded with the aim of finding new models to help fund MSMEs and SMEs access capital. Shrivastava built Progcap after her experience working at the IFC and the World Bank, and understanding deep-rooted inequalities in financial access.

Ankur Dahiya

Designation: CEO and cofounder, Rozana

Founded in: 2021

Based in: New Delhi

Key investors: Bertelsmann, Fireside Ventures, Bikaji family office

Claim to fame: Rozana allows rural consumers to order products via an app or call centre. It buys the products and stores them in leased warehouses. At Rozana, Dahiya aims to bridge the gap between urban and rural product accessibility.

Minu Margeret

Designation: CEO and founder, Blissclub

Founded in: 2020

Based in: Bengaluru

Key investors: Elevation Capital, Eight Roads, Singularity AMC

Claim to fame: Margeret launched BlissClub with a product-first philosophy, focussing on fabrics and fits designed specifically for Indian body types. The D2C brand offers comfortable clothing for women and men, designed for everyday activities ranging from travel and workouts to all-day wear.

Pallavi Mohadikar

Designation: CEO and cofounder, Palmonas

Founded in: 2021

Based in: Pune

Key investors: Xponentia Capital, Vertex Growth Fund

Claim to fame: Mohadikar launched Palmonas when demi-fine jewellery was a category that was taking off globally but remained largely untapped in India. Palmonas operates on an omnichannel model spanning its D2C site, online marketplaces, and 75 offline retail stores.

Malini Adapureddy

Designation: CEO and founder, Deconstruct

Founded in: 2021

Based in: Bengaluru

Key investors: DSG Consumer Partners, Kalaari Capital, L’Oréal’s BOLD

Claim to fame: Through Deconstruct, Adapureddy has built a D2C skincare brand based on consumer-insight-led product development and close collaboration with Korean skincare experts. Its sells across online marketplaces, quick commerce, and D2C channels, with a portfolio spanning spans sunscreens, face serums, lip care, and moisturisers.

Prachi Dharani

Designation: CEO and cofounder, PayGlocal Technologies

Founded in: 2021

Based in: Bengaluru

Key investors: Peak XV Partners, Tiger Global, Beenext

Claim to fame: Dharani founded PayGlocal with a focus on simplifying cross-border payments for Indian consumers and businesses. It enables seamless international transactions, helping merchants accept payments from customers across markets while making global commerce more accessible.



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