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Over 45% of Indian Startups Have Women Leaders, Says PM Modi on Startup Day

Prime Minister Narendra Modi marked National Startup Day by highlighting the pivotal role of women, with over 45% of Indian startups now having at least one woman director or founder. He noted India's rise as the world's second-largest ecosystem for women-led startup funding. The startup landscape has exploded from under 500 a decade ago to over two lakh today, with unicorns jumping from 4 to nearly 125. This growth, now extending to tier-2 and tier-3 cities, is driving unprecedented employment, innovation, and economic momentum.

Key Points: 45%+ Indian Startups Have Women Leaders: PM Modi

  • Over 45% of startups have women leaders
  • India is 2nd-largest in women-led startup funding
  • Startups grew from <500 to over 2 lakh in 10 years
  • Unicorns increased from 4 to nearly 125
2 min read

Over 45% of Indian startups feature women in leadership roles: PM Modi

PM Modi highlights women's role in India's startup boom, with over 45% of startups featuring women directors or founders on National Startup Day.

"Daughters of the country have played a major role in this transformation. - Prime Minister Narendra Modi"

New Delhi, January 16

On India's National Startup Day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke about the contribution of women in the success of Startup India and how over 45 per cent of Indian startups have at least one woman director or founder.

Prime Minister noted that women have played a major role in the transformation of India's startup ecosystem. "Daughters of the country have played a major role in this transformation," he added.

He also emphasised India becoming the world's second-largest ecosystem in women-led startup funding, underlining that this inclusive momentum is further strengthening India's potential.

Today marked the 10th anniversary of National Startup Day and on this occasion Prime Minister spoke about Indian startup ecosystem's growth trajectory. He pointed out that ten years ago, there were fewer than 500 startups in the country, while today, the number has risen to more than two lakh.

He noted that in 2014 India had only four unicorns, whereas at present, there are nearly 125 active unicorns, and the world is watching this success story with amazement. He further highlighted that the momentum of Startup India continues to accelerate, with today's startups becoming unicorns, launching IPOs, and creating more and more jobs. He stated that in the year 2025 alone, nearly 44,000 new startups were registered, the largest increase in any single year since the beginning of Startup India, and these figures testify to how India's startups are driving employment, innovation, and growth.

He also highlighted that India's startups not only originate from big cities like Bengaluru and Delhi but also come from tier-2 and tier-3 cities and this reflects the amount of opportunities India's startup ecosystem provides to today's youth.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
The numbers are impressive, no doubt. From 500 to 2 lakh startups is a phenomenal jump. But we need to ensure this growth is sustainable and these startups are solving real Indian problems, not just chasing valuation. The focus should be on quality alongside quantity.
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Ananya R
My cousin just started her agri-tech venture from Indore! This data proves the ecosystem is truly democratizing. When women lead, they often bring different perspectives to problem-solving. Hope this momentum continues and more girls are inspired to take the entrepreneurial plunge. ✨
D
David E
Watching India's startup story from Silicon Valley. The rise is remarkable, especially the women-led funding stat. Second largest ecosystem is a huge deal. The world is indeed watching. Congrats to all the entrepreneurs!
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Karthik V
Good to see the recognition. However, "featuring" a woman director is one thing, genuine leadership and equal decision-making power is another. Hope the report also looks at funding disparity and pay gaps within these startups. The journey has begun, but there's a long road ahead.
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Sneha F
44,000 new startups in a year! That's like 120+ every single day. Mind-blowing. This is creating so many jobs and fostering innovation at a grassroots level. Truly aatmanirbhar Bharat in action. 🇮🇳

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