Championing Founders: Programs, Platforms & Initiatives for Women

Women founders don’t just need applause on Women’s Day- they need year-round access to funding, networks, and opportunities. Real support means action- investing in policies, mentorship, and more.

Every year, Women’s Day brings a flood of social media posts, panels, and campaigns celebrating women entrepreneurs. Corporates roll out carefully crafted messages, investors share success stories, and news outlets highlight a handful of inspiring journeys. While these gestures bring visibility to the achievements of women in business, they often fail to address the deeper, systemic challenges that continue to hold many women entrepreneurs back.

The truth is, while awareness is growing, many women entrepreneurs still face significant challenges- from limited funding opportunities to systemic biases, cultural expectations, and the struggle to access the right networks. These barriers make it disproportionately harder for women to start, scale, and sustain their businesses compared to their male counterparts.

This year’s theme- Accelerate Action- demands more than conversation. It calls for bold steps to create real opportunities for women entrepreneurs. Because, let’s face it, the obstacles women founders face aren’t new, and neither is the need for change. What we need now is decisive action that breaks down barriers!

In this article, we’ll highlight the initiatives that are making a difference and what still needs to be done to create a truly inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem.

Access to Funding and Financial Inclusion

For women business owners, securing funding- especially equity financing- is often an uphill battle. Investment networks are exclusive and male-dominated, where decisions rely heavily on personal connections and the opinions of trusted insiders. In this environment, women face stereotypes and biases that limit their access to the capital they need to grow.

The numbers reflect this reality:

• Women are 10% less likely than men to know an entrepreneur—making it harder to tap into valuable business networks.

• Women are one-third less likely to invest in a business, which limits their influence in the investment world.

• Even when women do invest, they put in 30% less capital than men on average.

Key Initiatives

• Women Entrepreneurship Platform: An initiative by NITI Aayog aimed at supporting women entrepreneurs in India. It serves as a one-stop platform that provides access to mentorship, funding opportunities, market linkages, and business support services.

• Mahila Samriddhi Yojana: A microfinance scheme offering women financial assistance of up to ₹1,40,000, with a rebate on interest to support their entrepreneurial ventures.

• Mudra Yojana for Women: Women entrepreneurs can avail loans of up to ₹10 lakh without any collateral, at low interest rates, and with a flexible repayment tenure.

• Stand-up India: To enable bank loans ranging from ₹10 lakh to ₹1 crore for at least one Scheduled Caste (SC) or Scheduled Tribe (ST) borrower and at least one woman borrower per bank branch to support the establishment of enterprises.

• Dena Shakti Scheme: The loan combines a term loan with working capital, and women entrepreneurs are eligible for a 25% concession on interest rates.

• Stree Shakti Package for Women Entrepreneurs: The Stree Shakti Scheme is a financial initiative by the State Bank of India (SBI) designed to support women entrepreneurs by providing business loans, typically up to ₹10 Lakhs, with favourable terms.

• Cent Kalyani Scheme: The scheme aims to encourage women entrepreneurs to launch new projects or expand and modernise existing businesses. It is available to both new and existing women entrepreneurs running micro or small enterprises engaged in manufacturing and service activities.

• SAHA Fund: A venture capital fund supporting women-led businesses, helping them access funding and business networks.

• Women Start-up Programme (WSP) by NSRCEL at IIM Bangalore: Launched in collaboration with Goldman Sachs and the Government of India, WSP offers business education, mentoring, and incubation support to aspiring women entrepreneurs. The program includes online modules, on-campus boot camps, and funding opportunities to help women scale their businesses.

• Beauty&You Awards: Aims to support emerging beauty entrepreneurs in India. Winners receive financial grants upto $10 Million, mentorship, and access to industry networks, fostering innovation and growth in the beauty sector.

• Mahila Money: A financial services platform designed to support women entrepreneurs, Mahila Money offers micro-loans ranging from ₹10,000 to ₹2,00,000. It aims to assist women in setting up and expanding their businesses, especially those without access to traditional banking services.

• Federation of Indian Women Entrepreneurs (FIWE): FIWE is a national-level organisation that connects and empowers women entrepreneurs across India. It offers mentoring, training, networking, and funding opportunities to help women start and scale their businesses.

• The Women Entrepreneurs Finance Initiative (We-Fi): A global partnership designed to support women entrepreneurs by providing access to finance, markets, mentorship, and business networks.

• IFundWomen: A funding marketplace for women-owned businesses, IFundWomen offers access to capital through crowdfunding, grants, and loans.

These are just a few of the many initiatives designed to support women entrepreneurs by providing financial assistance, mentorship, market access, and policy support. Across the globe, governments, financial institutions, and private organisations are working to create a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem.

However, while these programs are a step in the right direction, there is still a need of female investors who are actively working to close the funding gap. More women in investment roles means more decision-makers who understand the challenges women entrepreneurs face- and are willing to back them.

Breaking the “Warm Introduction” Barrier

The startup ecosystem- whether in funding, mentorship, partnerships, or even business development- largely functions through networks. When these networks are dominated by men, women entrepreneurs often find themselves at a disadvantage, not because of a lack of capability or ambition but due to limited access to the right connections.

Even when women-led startups have innovative ideas and strong business models, they may struggle to find opportunities simply because they are not part of these established circles.

Key Initiatives

Here are a few networking initiatives designed to support women entrepreneurs by providing access to mentorship and networking opportunities:

• SHEROES: A community platform that offers networking, mentorship, and career opportunities for women professionals and entrepreneurs.

• CII Indian Women Network (IWN): An initiative by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) that provides leadership training, business networking, and policy advocacy for women entrepreneurs.

• FLO (FICCI Ladies Organisation): A division of the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry (FICCI) that supports women entrepreneurs through training, networking events, and advocacy.

• Ellevate Network: A global professional network for women that focuses on leadership development, mentorship, and business networking.

• The Women Founders Network (WFN): A non-profit organisation based in the U.S. that provides women entrepreneurs with access to funding, mentorship, and networking opportunities.

• Women Who Tech: A global network that supports women-led startups in the tech industry through mentorship and networking events.

• Women Entrepreneurs Club (WEC) at Headstart: An initiative dedicated to empowering and supporting women entrepreneurs in India.

A Shift from Work-Life Balance to Work-Life Integration

For years, the idea of work-life balance has dominated conversations around professional well-being, especially for women entrepreneurs. The notion suggests that work and personal life should be kept separate, with equal time and effort dedicated to both.

However, for many women founders, particularly those managing caregiving responsibilities alongside their businesses, this model often feels unrealistic. Instead of treating work and life as opposing forces, work-life integration offers a more sustainable and flexible approach- one that acknowledges the overlapping realities of entrepreneurship and personal responsibilities.

Key Initiatives

• Hera Hub: A female-focused coworking space and business accelerator designed to support women entrepreneurs and professionals.

• WSquare: A unique shared workspace ecosystem designed exclusively for women entrepreneurs, consultants, architects, lawyers, chartered accountants, fashion designers, musicians, and freelancers.

• Ladies Who Launch (Global): A nonprofit supporting women entrepreneurs with wellness programs, mentorship, and peer networking.

• Mahila e-Haat: A digital platform under the Ministry of Women and Child Development, Mahila e-Haat enables women entrepreneurs to showcase and sell their products online, facilitating direct access to markets without intermediaries.

While we have highlighted some of the key challenges and numerous initiatives across the startup ecosystem, the landscape of support for women entrepreneurs is constantly evolving. Every day, new programs, funding opportunities, and mentorship networks emerge, aiming to break down barriers and create a more level playing field.

As the ecosystem grows, so do the opportunities. Don’t forget to check out the list of organisations below, as they continue to inspire, empower, and drive awareness around women entrepreneurship.

Final Thoughts

Every year, March 8th brings a wave of appreciation for women entrepreneurs. While these gestures bring much-needed visibility, the question remains- what happens the next day?

For many women founders, the challenges persist long after the hashtags fade. Access to funding remains a struggle, networking opportunities are still harder to come by, and balancing business with personal responsibilities continues to be an everyday reality.

Women entrepreneurs in India are making historic strides. According to the latest Economic Survey, women-led businesses now account for an impressive 41.7% of the country's total. This surge is fueled by increasing access to education, digital tools, and government initiatives that support women in business.

Women, everywhere, are building incredible businesses, solving real-world problems, and driving economic growth. They are not just waiting for a seat at the table but building their own. Yet, they are often underrepresented in media, investment circles, and leadership discussions. The world needs to hear their stories not just once a year but continuously.

At Razorpay Rize, we get it—building a startup is tough. That’s why we’re more than just a space for connecting with other founders. We’ve got programs, tools, and services designed to take some of the weight off the shoulders and make the journey just a little bit easier.

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