She means business

Time of India

28-05-2025

Aditi Maheshwari is a freelance writer, and has been a student of Economics, Advertising, Marketing, Psychology and also of the Institute Of Company Secretaries Of India. She is a contributor to several magazines. LESS ... MORE
She doesn't shout. She builds. Not with fanfare, but with fire—quiet, deliberate, relentless. In the thrum of India's crowded bazaars and the glow of laptop screens in rural co-ops, a silent revolution is scripting the next chapter of the Indian economy. It's led by women who aren't just running enterprises—they're rewriting the very grammar of growth. In 2025, as boardrooms, bylanes, and balance sheets all start to reflect her imprint, the question is no longer whether she belongs—but whether the economy can grow without her. This isn't just inclusion. This is power redefined.
India's economic narrative is undergoing a transformative shift, with women-led enterprises emerging as pivotal contributors to the nation's growth. As of 2025, women own approximately 2.2 crore micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), constituting about 32% of the total MSMEs in the country. These enterprises not only bolster economic development but also play a crucial role in employment generation, providing jobs to an estimated 22 to 27 million individuals.
India's entrepreneurial landscape is enriched by the contributions of pioneering women whose ventures continue to inspire and expand in 2025:
Falguni Nayar (Nykaa): By 2025, Nykaa continues expanding into Tier 2 and 3 cities, redefining omnichannel retail in India and supporting thousands of women-led resellers through its affiliate ecosystem.
By 2025, Nykaa continues expanding into Tier 2 and 3 cities, redefining omnichannel retail in India and supporting thousands of women-led resellers through its affiliate ecosystem. Ghazal Alagh (Mamaearth): Mamaearth's toxin-free beauty and baby care products have not only dominated the Indian market but are also witnessing increasing traction in Southeast Asia.
Mamaearth's toxin-free beauty and baby care products have not only dominated the Indian market but are also witnessing increasing traction in Southeast Asia. Vineeta Singh (SUGAR Cosmetics): Singh's brand continues to redefine inclusivity in Indian beauty standards, with its Shark Tank influence seeding new women-led startups.
Singh's brand continues to redefine inclusivity in Indian beauty standards, with its Shark Tank influence seeding new women-led startups. Upasana Taku (MobiKwik): Taku's fintech innovation is fostering inclusive finance for underbanked women, with MobiKwik expanding its micro-loan offerings in 2025.
Taku's fintech innovation is fostering inclusive finance for underbanked women, with MobiKwik expanding its micro-loan offerings in 2025. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw (Biocon): As a beacon in biotech, Shaw's focus in 2025 includes AI-powered diagnostic tools addressing women-specific health conditions.
There are numerous such examples. The significance of women entrepreneurs extends beyond mere statistics. Research indicates that accelerating women's entrepreneurship could lead to the creation of over 30 million women-owned enterprises, potentially generating 150 to 170 million jobs. Such expansion is not only vital for economic diversification but also essential for achieving inclusive growth.
Moreover, women-led MSMEs often exhibit higher profit margins and lower non-performing assets compared to their male counterparts, underscoring their financial prudence and resilience.
New policies in 2025 are strengthening the ecosystem for women-led enterprises:
Mahila Udyam Nidhi Scheme (SIDBI): Offers up to ₹10 lakh in financial aid, now extended to green businesses and gig-economy startups led by women.
Offers up to ₹10 lakh in financial aid, now extended to green businesses and gig-economy startups led by women. Mahila E-Haat: This digital portal now includes integrated payment gateways and logistics partnerships to boost rural-to-urban market access.
This digital portal now includes integrated payment gateways and logistics partnerships to boost rural-to-urban market access. Udyogini Scheme: The 2025 budget increases its coverage by 35%, especially benefiting women in Tier 3 towns and semi-rural regions.
The 2025 budget increases its coverage by 35%, especially benefiting women in Tier 3 towns and semi-rural regions. Skill India for women: With new curricula on digital tax compliance, social media marketing, and AI tools, the 2025 rollouts now include startup incubation for trained women graduates.
Recognizing the potential of women entrepreneurs, the Indian government has implemented several initiatives:
Stand-Up India Scheme: Launched in 2016, this scheme provides bank loans ranging from ₹10 lakh to ₹1 crore to women entrepreneurs for setting up greenfield enterprises in manufacturing, services, or the trading sector.
Credit Guarantee Fund Trust for Micro and Small Enterprises (CGTMSE): This initiative offers collateral-free credit to women-led MSEs, with an 85% guarantee cover for loans up to ₹5 lakh, thereby mitigating credit risk for lenders.
PM SVANidhi Yojana: As of December 2024, this scheme has provided working capital loans worth ₹5,939.7 crore to 30.6 lakh women street vendors, facilitating their economic empowerment.
Despite these initiatives, access to credit remains a significant hurdle. Many women entrepreneurs are either unaware of available financial products or face challenges in meeting eligibility criteria due to lack of collateral or formal credit history.
To address this, fintech companies like Kinara Capital have introduced programs such as 'HerVikas,' offering collateral-free business loans tailored for women entrepreneurs. By leveraging technology and alternative credit assessment models, these initiatives aim to bridge the financing gap and promote financial inclusion.
As of 2025, Indian women entrepreneurs are spearheading growth in innovative and impactful sectors:
FemTech and health innovation: Startups in reproductive health and AI-enabled diagnostics are scaling rapidly. Women-led platforms now serve over 15 million users with localized care.
Startups in reproductive health and AI-enabled diagnostics are scaling rapidly. Women-led platforms now serve over 15 million users with localized care. Eco-entrepreneurship: From sustainable fashion brands like Bunavat to agri-tech innovators like Spudnik Farms, women are at the forefront of green enterprise.
From sustainable fashion brands like Bunavat to agri-tech innovators like Spudnik Farms, women are at the forefront of green enterprise. Handicrafts and fair trade: Artisanal ventures like Geetanjali Crafts are empowering thousands of rural women through online marketplaces and heritage revival projects.
Artisanal ventures like Geetanjali Crafts are empowering thousands of rural women through online marketplaces and heritage revival projects. Digital education & skill development: Women-founded edtech platforms are transforming skilling for rural girls and homemakers, with a sharp rise in coding bootcamps and finance literacy programs for women.
Women-founded edtech platforms are transforming skilling for rural girls and homemakers, with a sharp rise in coding bootcamps and finance literacy programs for women. Hospitality and food innovation: Across India, SHG-run kitchens and cloud-based delivery models are not just providing nutrition but also economic upliftment for low-income women.
Beyond financial schemes, grassroots organizations play a pivotal role in nurturing women entrepreneurs:
Self Employed Women's Association (SEWA): Established in 1972, SEWA has been instrumental in organizing women workers in the informal sector, providing them with access to financial services, training, and advocacy.
Swayam Shikshan Prayog (SSP): Founded in 1998, SSP focuses on empowering rural women through entrepreneurship in sectors like agriculture, health, and clean energy, promoting sustainable livelihoods.
SmartShree initiative: A collaboration between IIM Kozhikode and Kudumbashree Mission, this project aims to support and scale 150 women-led micro-enterprises in Kerala through capacity building and mentorship.
While notable gains have been made, several hurdles persist for women-led businesses:
Access to capital: Despite increased funding avenues, only 27% of women-led startups receive Series A or later stage funding as of 2025. Tailored VC pipelines and women-focused accelerators are helping bridge this gap.
Despite increased funding avenues, only 27% of women-led startups receive Series A or later stage funding as of 2025. Tailored VC pipelines and women-focused accelerators are helping bridge this gap. Work-life constraints: Flexible working ecosystems and access to childcare subsidies under the PM-Women@Work initiative launched in 2025 are helping more mothers remain active entrepreneurs.
Flexible working ecosystems and access to childcare subsidies under the PM-Women@Work initiative launched in 2025 are helping more mothers remain active entrepreneurs. Societal expectations: Awareness campaigns like #EqualByRight run by the Ministry of Women and Child Development are changing public attitudes towards women business owners.
While progress has been notable, challenges persist. Cultural norms, limited access to markets, and digital illiteracy continue to impede the growth of women-led enterprises. Addressing these requires a multifaceted approach:
Enhanced financial literacy: Implementing targeted financial education programs can empower women to make informed decisions and navigate the financial ecosystem effectively.
Digital inclusion: Promoting digital literacy and access to technology is crucial for women entrepreneurs to leverage online platforms for marketing, sales, and networking.
Policy reforms: Continuous evaluation and refinement of existing policies, ensuring they are responsive to the unique challenges faced by women entrepreneurs, will be essential.
Women-led enterprises are not just participants but are becoming architects of India's economic resurgence. By fostering an enabling environment that addresses financial, educational, and societal barriers, India can unlock the full potential of its women entrepreneurs, propelling the nation towards inclusive and sustainable growth.
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Views expressed above are the author's own.