In an unprecedented development, the Indian startup ecosystem has witnessed a significant rise in the participation of women entrepreneurs, with funding for female-led startups surging by over 90 percent in 2024. According to the Indian Startup Funding Report 2024 by Inc42, women-led startups raised approximately $930 million across 136 deals this year, compared to $480 million across 118 deals in 2023, marking a 93.75 percent year-on-year growth.
The fintech sector emerged as the frontrunner in terms of funding, securing $266.91 million, which constitutes 28.7 percent of the total funding received by women-led startups. This was achieved through just 17 deals. Following closely behind, the e-commerce sector raised $212 million (22.8 percent of the total) in 53 deals, while the enterprise tech sector garnered $130 million, representing 14 percent of the total funding.
Health tech and cleantech sectors also saw significant investments, with health tech receiving $102.3 million (11 percent of the total funding) and cleantech securing $130.93 million (14.1 percent of the total funding).
In addition to the impressive funding figures, 2024 also witnessed 13 new-age companies launching their initial public offerings (IPOs), collectively raising more than ₹29,200 crore from the stock market. These startups raised a cumulative total of ₹29,247 crore, with nearly ₹14,672 crore coming from fresh issues and ₹14,574 crore through Offers for Sale (OFS). The list of successful startup IPOs includes prominent names such as TAC Security, Unicommerce, MobiKwik, TBO Tek, Ixigo, Trust Fintech, FirstCry, Menhood, Awfis, Swiggy, Digit Insurance, Blackbuck, and Ola Electric.
This remarkable surge in funding and successful IPOs underscore the dynamic evolution of India’s startup landscape, driven by innovation and the growing influence of women entrepreneurs. The Indian startup ecosystem is not only thriving but also setting a strong precedent for women-led ventures, reflecting a vibrant and inclusive future for the country’s entrepreneurial landscape.
