The Indian startup ecosystem has experienced an inspiring transformation, thanks to a new wave of women entrepreneurs. These founders break stereotypes, lead innovation, and create value in sectors once dominated by men. Their stories prove that success comes from vision, grit, and relentless drive—not gender.
In this article, meet 10 women entrepreneurs who actively shape India’s startup landscape and inspire thousands to dream bigger and bolder.
1. Falguni Nayar – Founder of Nykaa
Falguni Nayar launched Nykaa in 2012 after leaving a top job at Kotak Mahindra. She built Nykaa into India’s most trusted beauty and lifestyle platform. Her strategy relied on deep consumer insights, premium positioning, and flawless execution. She took the company public in 2021, becoming India’s richest self-made woman.
Falguni redefined beauty retail in India and created opportunities for countless brands and beauty professionals. She continues to expand Nykaa into fashion, wellness, and international markets.
2. Ghazal Alagh – Co-founder of Mamaearth
Ghazal Alagh co-founded Mamaearth in 2016 with her husband, Varun. She noticed a lack of toxin-free baby care products in India and built a brand focused on safety and transparency. Ghazal used her background in corporate training and design to shape a brand that resonates with millennial parents.
Mamaearth quickly scaled into skincare and wellness. The brand achieved unicorn status in 2022, and Ghazal became a popular voice on innovation and women’s leadership. She promotes sustainability, local sourcing, and clean beauty.
3. Richa Kar – Founder of Zivame
Richa Kar changed the way Indian women shop for lingerie. She launched Zivame in 2011 to solve a problem that traditional retailers ignored: comfort, fit, and privacy. She empowered women to explore innerwear options without social discomfort.
Richa built Zivame into a leading online lingerie store and educated the market through campaigns and expert fittings. She challenged social taboos and helped normalize conversations around body positivity and self-care. Her vision still drives Zivame’s growth and category leadership.
4. Upasana Taku – Co-founder of MobiKwik
Upasana Taku co-founded MobiKwik in 2009 with a mission to bring digital payments to the masses. While the fintech space leaned heavily male, she took charge of operations, compliance, and user experience. Her leadership helped MobiKwik grow into one of India’s top digital wallet and credit platforms.
She also launched Buy Now, Pay Later (BNPL) services to reach underserved users. Upasana believes in inclusive finance and continues to push for gender diversity in tech teams and leadership.
5. Aditi Gupta – Co-founder of Menstrupedia
Aditi Gupta tackled menstrual taboos head-on by launching Menstrupedia in 2012. She used comics and storytelling to educate young girls, boys, and families about menstruation in a scientific, shame-free way.
Her platform reached over 15,000 schools and NGOs. Bollywood actress Aamir Khan praised her work on national television. Aditi turned a deeply stigmatized topic into a movement that empowers young people to understand health, hygiene, and gender rights. She speaks widely on using storytelling for social change.
6. Malika Sadani – Founder of The Moms Co.
Malika Sadani started The Moms Co. after struggling to find safe, toxin-free skincare products for her child. She launched the brand in 2017 and focused on building trust with moms through clinical safety, honesty, and convenience.
Her team crafted science-backed solutions for pregnancy, baby care, and sensitive skin. Malika scaled quickly through digital channels and personalized customer service. She now runs a global brand used by more than a million families. Her work champions clean, responsible parenting.
7. Shradha Sharma – Founder and CEO of YourStory
Shradha Sharma built YourStory into India’s leading platform for startup storytelling. She launched the venture in 2008 when few media houses covered entrepreneurship seriously. Shradha created a platform that amplifies underdog stories and emerging businesses.
She bootstrapped for years and published over 100,000 startup stories. Her voice shaped India’s startup narrative and helped many founders gain visibility and investor attention. Shradha now leads a media-tech platform that offers content, research, and community.
8. Divya Gokulnath – Co-founder of BYJU’S
Divya Gokulnath co-founded BYJU’S, one of the world’s largest edtech companies. She started as an educator and took charge of student engagement, content creation, and brand trust. Her ability to simplify complex topics made BYJU’S popular among students and parents alike.
Divya speaks openly about mental health, student pressure, and women in STEM. She built a strong community within BYJU’S and shaped its female-friendly work culture. Her presence in the C-suite makes her one of India’s most influential education leaders.
9. Neha Nagar – Founder of TaxationHelp
Neha Nagar founded TaxationHelp to simplify taxes and financial literacy for small business owners. She built her brand through short, engaging videos on Instagram and YouTube. Her ability to explain tax laws in simple Hindi attracted millions of followers.
Neha launched her fintech firm to help MSMEs, influencers, and freelancers handle GST, ITR, and company registrations. She focuses on clarity, confidence, and customer service. Neha inspires a new wave of digital-first solopreneurs to learn finance fearlessly.
10. Kanika Tekriwal – Founder of JetSetGo
Kanika Tekriwal disrupted aviation with her startup JetSetGo, India’s first marketplace for private jet and charter bookings. She founded the company after beating cancer in her early 20s. Her mission? Make private flying efficient, transparent, and tech-enabled.
She built software to manage aircraft fleets, maintenance, and on-demand flying. Kanika convinced HNIs and corporates to adopt smarter aviation solutions. JetSetGo now operates a growing fleet and serves VIP clients across India and the Middle East. Kanika built her brand on resilience, data, and passion.
What Makes These Women Stand Out?
These women don’t just launch companies—they solve problems, raise awareness, and build ecosystems. They challenge bias, create jobs, and contribute to India’s GDP. Each founder:
- Solves real problems with innovation
- Builds teams with purpose
- Prioritizes customers and community
- Stays committed to quality and ethics
- Amplifies other women’s voices
They lead from the front and set benchmarks that redefine success.
India Needs More Women-Led Startups
India houses over 1.25 lakh startups today, yet women lead less than 20% of them. When women build, economies grow stronger. With improved access to funding, mentorship, and policy support, more women will enter and thrive in entrepreneurship.
Initiatives like Startup India, Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP), and SIDBI’s Fund of Funds already support female founders. But we must continue pushing for:
- Equal funding access
- Safety and flexibility in the workplace
- Skill-building in tech, finance, and leadership
- Better representation in investor circles
Final Thoughts
These 10 women prove that gender doesn’t limit ambition, innovation, or leadership. They rewrite the rules and show how passion and persistence can create legacies. Their journeys inspire the next generation to pursue ideas fearlessly.
Every time one woman breaks through, she lights the way for hundreds more.