Women founders and investors addressed concerns regarding equity in funding, mentorship and opportunity at Startup Hub Expo 2026. In a panel session titled “Women in India’s Startup Ecosystem: Driving Innovation, Leadership & Funding,” the panellists discussed structural gaps in India’s startup ecosystem despite visible progress in recent years.
The discussion, held during the Startup Hub Expo at Bharat Mandapam, brought together industry leaders who pointed to ongoing challenges in access to capital and systemic bias, even as more women step into leadership roles across sectors.
Funding Barriers, Bias Continue to Shape Outcomes
Panelists noted that participation by women entrepreneurs is rising, but access to early-stage funding remains uneven. Societal perceptions, judgements, and investor bias are major factors in decision-making, particularly in capital allocation.
“Such bias affects how women-led ventures are evaluated, especially during funding rounds. She added that these challenges are evident and concerning outside metro cities.”
-Sarika Saxena, Managing Partner at IAN Alpha Fund
Panelists also highlighted that founders in Tier 2 and Tier 3 regions face additional constraints, including limited mentorship networks and fewer opportunities for early-stage validation.
“Women entrepreneurs are often assessed differently from their male counterparts.”
-Priya Singh, Co-founder of Chalo Mobility
She also added that questions about credibility and risk appetite are more frequently directed at women, which impacts investor confidence and growth opportunities.
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Rising Participation, Push for Inclusive Growth
Despite the gaps, panelists acknowledged steady progress, with more women entering sectors such as deep tech, mobility and finance.
Rimjhim Agrawal, Co-founder and CTO of BrainSightAI, said women are increasingly leading innovation in high-impact areas, including healthcare technology. She added that representation in complex sectors is improving, though scale remains a challenge.
“There is a need for stronger peer networks. She said mentorship and community-led support systems are important to sustaining growth and enabling more women to scale their ventures.”
-Payal Koul Mirakhur, Co-founder of uExcelerate and board member at Bharat FIH and Hinduja Tech
Olga Goncharova, Consultant at A7, said access to learning and skill-building opportunities remains uneven globally, but noted a gradual shift as more women step into leadership roles.
The panel was moderated by Vitika Sharma Banerjee, Founder of Fourth Dimension Experience and Co-founder of Future Fit.
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Ecosystem Growth Linked to Inclusion
Speakers concluded that India’s startup ecosystem cannot reach its full potential without improving access to capital. There is an urgent need to strengthen mentorship pipelines and ensure policy-level support for women-led enterprises.
The Startup Hub Expo was held alongside the 33rd Convergence India Expo at Bharat Mandapam in New Delhi, bringing together startups, investors and policymakers. The next edition is scheduled for March 23-25, 2027.
