India’s startup ecosystem has been pivotal in unleashing economic growth and catalyzing entrepreneurial innovation. As a leading and high growth employer, the industry attracts a large and diverse pool of talent, positioning it uniquely to lead the way toward gender equity in the private sector. The Women in India’s Startup Ecosystem Report (WISER) study maps the current state of women’s participation in India’s startup ecosystem and identifies levers that founders and investors can employ to increase their participation. 

The findings, collected from over 200 Indian startups, demonstrate their potential to move the needle on gender diversity by fostering inclusion as a part of their cultural DNA. WISER shows that startups can offer women a more gender-equitable environment, by way of faster career progression, ability to occupy more roles of influence, and greater autonomy and flexibility, which enables female employees to meet personal and professional goals at different career stages.