Breaking the glass ceiling: Trailblazing women leaders to share strategies to close the gender gap at ET Soonicorns Summit 2024

Are you a woman interested in the Indian startup ecosystem or the vibrant startup community in Bengaluru? Then the panel discussion on ‘Women in the Indian Startup Ecosystem: Breaking Barriers and Bridging the Gender Funding Gap’‘ It could be an ideal platform to meet experienced entrepreneurs who decipher the financing challenges faced by women.

This panel is a call to action. Women in the startup ecosystem – whether founders, investors or stakeholders – could participate in a conversation that not only remains relevant, but also demands urgent attention.

Join Shreyasi Singh, Shally Modi, Shanti Mohan, Minu Margeret, and Rashmi Daga and become part of a community that has dared to dream and risen up to break barriers. This could be your chance to make a collective call to action to own the future and steer financial ownership until the day comes when women are just entrepreneurs; not “womenpreneurs.” This stellar group of female entrepreneurs, by no means exhaustive, will come together to share their learnings and wisdom in the hopes of inspiring and empowering the next generations of women who seek to break barriers and build powerful businesses despite systemic biases.

With its theme, Of The resurgence of resilienceThe ET Soonicorns Summit 2024 is set to catalyze discussions on sustainable growth, business reinvention, and most importantly, gender inclusion in the startup ecosystem.

In a world where the business landscape is constantly evolving, the gender gap in startup funding remains a major barrier to equity and equality in the business world. Despite advances in representation, female business founders in India continue to face challenges, particularly when it comes to securing funding. The summit is a vital platform that seeks to address these gaps head-on.

The panel discussion entitled ‘Women in India’s startup ecosystem: breaking barriers and closing the gender gap in funding‘, It has been designed to amplify the voices and experiences of female founders.

Register now
Meet the trailblazing women who have set a precedent with their leadership roles
At the ET Soonicorns Summit 2024, the panel ‘Breaking down barriers and closing the gender gap in funding‘ will explore these questions with the help of four pioneering women leaders who have faced these same challenges:

• Shreyasi SinghPresident of Upgrad Enterprise, she brings two decades of experience in journalism, entrepreneurship and business reporting. Her journey from the publishing world to a leadership role at the disruptive edtech and training platform speaks volumes about her ability to break traditional expectations and create space for women in leadership roles;
• Shaly ModiCo-Founder and Chief Product and Revenue Officer of Pratilipi, she has also defied the odds. As a gold medalist and co-founder of the innovative reading and self-publishing platform, she has disrupted the literary landscape of Indian languages ​​through her technology-based company, bridging linguistic gaps;
• Meanwhile, Shanti MohanCo-founder and CEO of LetsVenture, she has redefined what it means to be a woman entrepreneur in India’s startup ecosystem. Her platform, which facilitates investments in startups, aims to help startups with more than just funding. Mohan’s vision extends beyond capital to build a supportive ecosystem for startups, one that also empowers women to take charge of their financial future;
• my daisyFounder of BlissClub, she has carved out a niche for herself in the activewear space by creating a community of empowered women who are passionate about fitness and wellness. Her journey from founding a company to creating a movement is a testament to the power of community building and leveraging it to overcome systemic challenges faced by women in business.
• Last but not least, Rashmi DagaFounder and CEO of FreshMenu, Daga will bring valuable insights from her experience in scaling FreshMenu through innovative kitchen models. Since founding FreshMenu in 2014, she has grown the online food delivery service into a thriving platform that claims to process over 12,000 orders a day. Daga, who has previously worked for IBM India, Johnson & Johnson Medical, and Ola, will share a valuable framework for understanding how women entrepreneurs can overcome traditional funding barriers. Join us for the incisive panel where Daga will share leadership lessons in the competitive food tech space, offering strategic perspectives for tackling the unique challenges of women founders in the startup ecosystem.

This stellar, by no means exhaustive, group of female entrepreneurs will come together to share their learnings and wisdom in the hopes of inspiring and empowering the next generation of women looking to break barriers and build powerful businesses despite systemic biases.
Why a women’s panel on the “funding gap” in 2024?
But why, in 2024, is it still crucial to have such a debate? The reason lies in the numbers and the narratives that support them.

A WISER report titled ‘Women in India’s startup ecosystem’ The study highlights a glaring disparity: While women-led startups have increased to 18% in India over the past five years, only 5% of the $10 billion raised by Indian startups in 2023 went to women-led companies. This is a sharp decline from 9.6% of the $25 billion raised in 2022.

These figures reveal the persistent challenges faced by female founders, not only in gaining visibility but also in securing the vital funding needed to scale their ventures.

Systemic biases
The gender gap in funding is a multifaceted problem that stems from a combination of social, financial and structural barriers. One recurring issue that experts point to is the “invisible bias” in lending practices, where there is a notable reluctance on the part of investors and financial institutions to lend to women entrepreneurs. This bias is not always overt, but it manifests itself in subtle ways, whether through stricter scrutiny of women’s business models or in the smaller size of loans given to female founders compared to their male counterparts.

This financial indecisiveness intersects with broader societal barriers. For example, women’s chronic property ownership gap in India hampers their ability to use assets as collateral when applying for loans. At crucial times when they are trying to expand or radically change their businesses, this lack of collateral becomes an insurmountable obstacle.

Moreover, societal expectations continue to push women into traditional roles, making the path to entrepreneurship even more arduous. While there are government plans to address the gender credit gap, the broader question remains: what more can be done to ensure women have better access to credit and finance?

Why this conversation is important
The presence of these powerful voices at the ET Soonicorns Summit 2024 is more than symbolic. It is a necessary intervention in a system that still harbors biases against women entrepreneurs. Through this panel, attendees will gain deep insights not only into the challenges but also strategies that can help women founders succeed. Discussions will focus on fundraising techniques, managing biases in the investor community, and the importance of resilience and strategic shifts.

But more than anything, this panel is a call to action. Women in the startup ecosystem—whether founders, investors, or stakeholders—are urged to attend and participate in a long-overdue conversation. The insights shared will not only inspire, but will also provide attendees with practical tools to navigate the funding landscape more effectively.

ET Soonicorns Summit 2024: Empowering India’s Startup Ecosystem
The ET Soonicorns Summit 2024 is a revamped and refocused edition that promises to deliver more than just dialogue. With a focus on recalibrating business models in a post-funding winter era, the summit is the ultimate convergence of unicorn and soonicorn founders, disruptors, seasoned investors, and policymakers.

With the overarching theme of “From Resilience to Resurgence,” the underlying message is loud and clear: Recalibrate. Bounce. Reinvent.. These intertwined themes will resonate throughout the event, as industry leaders share their strategies for navigating the new era of AI-led disruption and changing global dynamics.

With emphasis on sustainable growth and strategic recoveryThe Soonicorns Summit 2024 is set to unleash the next wave of innovation, collaboration, and funding opportunities, especially for female founders who are ready to break barriers and rewrite the narrative.

Join the conversation. Break the barriers. Bridge the gap. Register now for ET Soonicorns Summit 2024 and be part of a transformative movement that seeks to change the face of India’s startup ecosystem.

To register, click here!

Be a part of this transformative event and take the next logical step to elevate your business!

upGrad is the training partner for ET Soonicorns Summit 2024.

For more information on the ET Soonicorns Summit, Visit the website.

To register now, Click here.

(This article is generated and published by the ET Spotlight team. You can contact them) (at [email protected])