As the country’s startup ecosystem is growing at a frantic pace, more and more people are quitting their 9-5 cubicle restricted job to come forward and take up the startup route. But the road to set up an enterprise of our own is full of roadblocks. The task becomes even more difficult when you are a woman who is seeking to take a plunge into the entrepreneurship world, given the regressive nature of the society.

According to a report by NASSCOM, it is revealed that only nine per cent of the founders and co-founders in the startup ecosystem are women. The statistics reveal a clear picture of the male-dominance prevailing in the startup system and also is a testimonial of how women are

provided with lesser opportunities to engage in the entrepreneurial activities.

Be it funding or mentorship, the Indian startup scenario presents a tough road for a women entrepreneur who strives to make an impact in this avenue. With limited access to capital thriving in an all-male avenue can prove to be a barrier for a female leader.Laden with the gender inequality, women leaders are now coming forward increasingly and fighting the challenges prevailing in the sector. From securing funding to battling the cultural perceptions and social norms, these women are managing to make their way up the ladder in this patriarchal system.

But slowly people are trying to change this narrative with women foraying into this sector. Realizing this gap, the government is also now coming forward to boost the participation of women in the entrepreneurial world. The government has launched various schemes like ‘Swarna Jayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana’ and ‘Swaran Jayanti Sekhari Rozgar Yojana’ in order to inspire women to venture into the startup world. To solve the funding problem, the government also launched a program named ‘Mahila Vikas Nidhi,’ which is a fund set up by SIDBI that will assist women in starting their own entrepreneurship establishment.