Women's Day: Women Founders on Capital Raising & Collective Support

By: WE Staff

Dr. Preet Sandhu, Founder & Promoter of AVPL International

Dr. Preet is an entrepreneur advancing agriculture-tech, defence drone manufacturing, and rural entrepreneurship, building scalable technology-driven ecosystems that support grassroots economic development and employment generation across India.

Initially during your journey, did entrepreneurship feel like a “natural” choice or a deviation from expected gender norms?

It was always a deviation from expected gender norms. People did not accept me as a person who sees dreams and is ambitious. They tried to make me understand that if I wanted to fit into society, I had to follow whatever structure was already laid in the system. If I dared to go against it, my life would be ruined and I would be responsible for the same. Even today, many women entrepreneurs continue to face similar societal conditioning when they choose unconventional leadership paths.

Access to capital can be the make or break for founders. Data suggests that raising capital is considerably tougher for women founders. How do you think funding dynamics differ for women-led startups in India?

That is true, it is always difficult for women to raise funds. Whatever hard work I do, or efforts I put in, in the funding industry I am often seen as someone’s wife who is a Co-Founder of the company, and hence their money is considered safe. Women-led startups still receive a disproportionately small share of venture capital due to persistent bias and limited access to influential investor networks, especially in male-dominated sectors like drone technology and agritech.

How can established women founders/investors support and empower aspiring women founders?

Established women should come forward with venture funds specifically for aspiring women, mentor them, and then empower them to raise more funds, that's what I am doing with my platform Startup Stairs. At the same time, women leaders must focus on building strong, intentional networks and backing their vision with clear on-ground traction. Stepping beyond comfort zones and supporting inclusive ecosystems will help more women founders access capital, scale sustainably, and lead with confidence.