WER Week Wrap: Indian Women's Achievements, Business News & Opportunities

By: Women Entrepreneurs Review Team | Friday, 9 October 2026

Every change begins with itself an opportunity; across India and beyond, women are finding new ways to lead, build businesses, achieve sporting success and create social impact. Recent developments reflect this progress, from key corporate appointments and changes in Indian women’s cricket to startup investments and initiatives supporting rural entrepreneurs.

Simultaneously, new educative schemes and employment solutions are emerging, and increasing awareness of menstruation, maternal health and menopause service are making women's healthcare visible. These narratives also have a key question to ask: How can opportunities be translated to sustained progress? This edition of WER week wrap focuses on the individuals, policies and programs driving these advances in various sectors.

WER brings you the latest updates on women’s achievements, emerging opportunities and the changes shaping their lives and careers.

Leadership Appointments & Sporting Transitions

Leadership transitions, professional milestones and contributions to social change have marked significant developments across business, sports and philanthropy. From taking charge of international businesses to guiding national cricket teams and advancing women’s equality, these stories highlight women’s contributions across diverse fields.

Procter & Gamble Korea has appointed Rohini Laya Venkateswaran as its General Manager with a broad background in sales, marketing, commercial strategy and
e-commerce. She was earlier the Chief Sales Officer at the Indian Subcontinent and Executive Director at Gillette India. She has an international sales, modern retail, brand development and business strategy background across various markets.

In the meantime, Indian cricket women has a new leadership phase, as Smriti Mandhana has been given the role of full-time white ball captain of the Indian women's cricket team. She will be managing the Indian team in ODIs and T20Is, starting the home series against Zimbabwe on October 16, 2026, replacing Harmanpreet Kaur. Smriti has an experience of captaining India in international cricket as well as leading Royal Challengers Bengaluru to Women's Premier League glory in 2024 and 2026.

Her appointment follows Harmanpreet’s decision to step down as captain across Tests, ODIs and T20Is on October 6, 2026. During her decade-long tenure, Harmanpreet led India to its maiden Women’s ODI World Cup title in 2025 and Asian Games gold medals in 2023 and 2026. She will continue representing India as a player, contributing her international experience to the team’s next phase.

Beyond corporate leadership and sport, Indian-American philanthropist Sharmila Mona Sinha has been inducted into the National Women's Hall of Fame in the USA. She is the 2nd woman of Indian origin to get the honour after Indra Nooyi. She has worked and volunteered in the areas of finance, philanthropy and women's equality; she has had the opportunity to be involved with Women Moving Millions and to found Raising Change to build up social-impact organisations.

These stories highlight how women are working to pave the way and make a positive difference in their areas of expertise through sporting success and the fight for women's equality in the corporate world.

Women’s Entrepreneurship & Business Support

Funding, mentorship, technology, and improved access to markets are providing new opportunities to women entrepreneurs in regions to sustainably grow their business.

The PEHEL project in Punjab will be developing financial support, digital education, and AI-enabled business coaching for women's self-help groups to help more than 1.5 lakh women entrepreneurs. So far 237 women from 50 villages have been given ₹1.1 crore in credit to set up business. The program assists women in choosing appropriate business opportunities, starting and operating their businesses.

In Kolkata, the Kutchina Foundation’s Krittika Samriddhi scheme is supporting six first-generation women entrepreneurs with ₹2 lakh each within one year. Alongside financial assistance, beneficiaries will receive skills training and market access to strengthen their businesses. Among them is transgender entrepreneur Debangshi Biswas Chowdhury, who plans to restart her previously closed online venture.

Meanwhile Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has fixed a target of five lakh women entrepreneurs in the state. The Swayam AP scheme will enable the women entrepreneurs of the SHG to connect with the markets beyond their locality by the improved branding, packaging, digital sales and distribution. Women entrepreneurs will also have the opportunities to display their products and reach customers during this upcoming National Saras Mela 2026 at Vijayawada.

In continuation to the value of mentorship, TiE Mumbai, FIS and AROH Foundation has initiated a free six months Women Entrepreneurship Support Program which includes 35 participants. The initiative provides master classes, expert mentorship, networking with industry peers and access to investors to build essential skills and help women entrepreneurs scale up.

The government has also launched technological support to individual women entrepreneurs and women entrepreneur in Nepal up to Rs 200,000 and Rs 300,000 respectively. This will be provided to businesses to buy machinery, tools and equipment, particularly in the agricultural, handicraft, tourism and traditional weaving sector.

With support ranging from funding and training to technology and market access, these initiatives aim to help more women run their own businesses, earn a steady income and build better opportunities for their families and communities.

Startup Funding & Business Innovation

In the rapidly changing business landscape, new businesses have emerged to cater to niche needs, ranging from helping businesses select the right sales talent to improving pet nutrition and providing women with income-generating opportunities.

Pet nutrition startup TailBlaze Longevity has raised $300,000 in pre-seed funding led by US-based Comma Capital. Founded by Manaal Maniyar and Palak Devpura, the Ahmedabad-based company will use the funds to launch HeartPour, expand its team and reach more pet owners across India. Its products focus on canine nutrition and healthy ageing.

Meanwhile, Pune-based Scooter has secured ₹1.5 crore in pre-seed funding from AJVC, founded by Aviral Bhatnagar. The company was established in 2024 by Kartik Mandrekar and Saumya Seth, and it provides real-world sales tests to assess individuals more effectively than their CVs. Scooter has developed a network of more than 10,000 sales professionals and has more than 50 client companies to enhance its platform and streamline recruitment.

In the social impact space, Yuukke Global Ventures launched Yuukke Artha at its summit in Chennai on October 7. The program's goal is to empower 10 million women by 2030 to become financially independent through various avenues, including earning opportunities, hands-on training, and the use of digital tools and community support. This event was attended by approximately 150 women entrepreneurs and the leaders and followed by awards to 11 women who achieved their excellence.

Although each initiative targets a different need, all these are action-oriented, whether it's hiring more well, training, or consulting on the subject of pet nutrition, or how to better access economic opportunities. Their improvement will be based on the success they have in transforming these plans into sustained outcomes.

Rural Enterprise & Women-Led Marketplaces

Exhibitions are emerging all across India to give rural women entrepreneurs and artisans a platform to sell their products and meet new customers.

SARAS Mela is a celebration of handlooms, handicrafts, traditional foods and herbal products, run by 204 vendors at HMDA Grounds from October 7 to 18 in Hyderabad. The exhibition is organised by the Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP) of Telangana and is a gathering of rural businesses and rural self-help groups from all over the country.

Similarly, the Jharkhand IAS Officers' Wives Association will also hold its annual fair on Diwali at Morabadi Ground, Ranchi from October 29 to November 2. The entrepreneurs from eight states will exhibit indigenous dresses, regional cuisine, traditional paintings such as Sohrai, Kohbar and Madhubani paintings.

Both fairs provide rural entrepreneurs with great opportunities to access broader markets, market their region's crafts and create direct links with customers to build their businesses.

Education & Academic Achievement

The latest JEE Advanced results and recent decisions in West Bengal underscore trends in the education and employment sectors and opportunities for women.

The West Bengal Cabinet has given its approval for the Bhagini Nivedita Scheme, under which unmarried women will be given Rs 50,000 for higher education from Jan 2027. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari also announced 14,454 job openings in government and Rs 3,300 monthly food allowance for government hostel SC/ST students.

In the meantime, 10,107 women qualified for the JEE Advanced 2026 and that was the first time in six years that the number of female students crossed 10,000, a 23.4% qualification percentage.

These developments highlight ongoing efforts to expand educational and employment opportunities.

Women’s Employment & Financial Mobility

India’s healthcare and public transport sectors are expanding opportunities and access for women through recent developments in Ayush services and Delhi’s free bus travel scheme.

In FY2024-25, the Ayush services sector had a value of 36.92 billion US dollars and 1.76 million livelihoods, of which women comprise 43 per cent. By 2047, the industry is expected to be valued at US$216–318 billion with additional employment opportunities in the healthcare, wellness and education sectors.

In the meantime, eligible women have been asked to use a Pink Saheli Smart Card to avail free travel on AC and non-AC DTC/cluster buses in Delhi on the basis of NCMC. More than 19 lakh women have already availed of the facility.

Menstrual Health & Women’s Healthcare

Increasing awareness about women's health is fueling a renewed push to tackle extreme heat, heart health issues during menopause, and menstrual hygiene.

According to a global survey commissioned by Wellcome, almost three-quarters of 1,000 health professionals in five countries reported a growing concern about pregnant women experiencing more health-related issues due to increased temperatures. Also, 76% noticed an increase in health issues of unborn and newborn babies. Greater training, resources and climate-health planning was needed to safeguard mothers and infants, experts said.

The World Health Federation and International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics have released a combination recommendation on hormone therapy for menstruopausal women who are at cardiovascular risk. The paper suggests that medication should be tailored to each patient's medical history, cardiovascular status, and age, stating that gynaecologists and cardiologists should work together on the treatment.

The WOMN initiative was introduced by the government of Kerala to enhance the access of women to affordable menstrual hygiene products. The project will now benefit 14 KSRTC terminals and depots with sanitary napkins at Rs 10 per packet and will eventually expand to 93 more depots.

Sport, Ambition & National Pride

The AFC U17 Women's Asian Cup China 2027 Qualifier series for U17 women's football team of India started against Iraq on October 5 in Malaysia. Head coach Joakim Alexandersson kept 11 players from the 2026 team which went all the way to the first time in the team's history entering a quarter-final. After four friendly matches against the Philippines and Uzbekistan, India prioritized tactical discipline, technical skills and team coordination in the qualifiers.

Final Note:

Every step forward creates possibilities for a better future. With continued support, equal opportunities and access to essential resources, women can strengthen their independence, achieve their ambitions and make a lasting difference in society.