Govt Infuses Rs. 3,156 Crore to Boost Women-Led Startups

By: WE Staff | Saturday, 13 December 2025

• Government-backed initiatives have played a key role in financing women-founded enterprises, between 2020 and 2025
• Funding and credit access were facilitated through the FFS, SISFS, and CGSS schemes
• Officials acknowledged the assistance but indicated that success rates are not fully assessed

India’s flagship Startup India programmes have deployed more than ₹3,156 Cr toward women-founded enterprises. With the Fund of Funds (FFS) contributing ₹2,838.9 crore to 154 firms, the Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS) disbursing ₹284.79 crore to 1,635 startups, and the Credit Guarantee Scheme (CGSS) extending ₹33.17 crore across 24 loans, the financial backing is viewed as strategic and long-term investment driving growth in women-led ventures.

According to a written submission presented to the Rajya Sabha by Minister of State for Commerce & Industry Jitin Prasada on Friday, numerous eligible and aspiring women-led startups have received sizeable financial backing under the Startup India framework, between 2020 and 2025 (as on 31 October 2025). Annexures to Parliament outlined sector-wise and state-wise support data.

Since April 2021, the SISFS has approved ₹284.79 crore for 1,635 women-led enterprises via incubators, supporting early-stage commercialization. CGSS has enabled multiple women-led startups to secure collateral-free financing for their ventures since April 2023, guaranteeing 24 loans valued at ₹33.17 crore through eligible lenders by October-end 2025.

Eyeing its evaluation performance, the Minister stated that while the policy support holds immense relevance and is widespread, it is impractical to maintain a centralised data on startup success outcomes due to the absence of a standardised methodology.