Future Female Forward Panel Discusses Obstacles Faced by Women in Indian Startup Ecosystem

By: WE Staff | Wednesday, 26 July 2023

Future Female Forward recently hosted a panel discussion where India's top Female entrepreneurs came together and discussed the obstacles women face during a startup ecosystem, particularly in the SaaS sector. The panelists also discussed their personal experiences, shared their achievements, and also demand greater gender equality in leadership positions.

The founder and CEO of Mad Street Den, Ashwini Asokan mentioned that India's SaaS market has experienced significant growth and is expected to reach $26 billion by 2026 but still female participation in senior leadership roles is significantly low.

According to her, there are currently only five women who are leading firms with a $10 million or higher valuation, and some are leading $100 million projects.

The AI-focused startup Mad Street Den stated that hiring an equal ratio of females in a company is not an issue and the companies should normalize gender diversity.

Co-founder and Chief Product Officer of BankBazaar, Rati Shetty discussed her experiences as a Female entrepreneur in the fintech industry. Sponsorship and mentorship both are equally important for female-led start-ups, she said.

The founder and growth champion of MyHarvest Farms, Kamhalinie Ithal, Archana Stalin and President of White Lotus & Co., and Vijaylakshmi Venkatraman, the founder and CEO of Gaayak.

According to other Female entrepreneurs present, women often face difficulties at the grassroots level that include a lack of support, workplace harassment, and a traditional mindset toward women's roles. In order to overcome these roadblocks, women need to value the training and counseling sessions at the community level. More efforts need to be taken to advance gender diversity, mentorship programs, and support systems to prosper the startup ecosystem and also unlock the full potential of female entrepreneurs.