Government Invests Over ₹3100 Crore in Women-Led Startups Over Six Years

The government has infused over ₹3,100 crore into women-led startups over the past six years, through its three key schemes: the Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS), Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS), and Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS). This significant investment is aimed at boosting female entrepreneurship across the country, as highlighted by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry.

Union Minister of Commerce and Industry, Piyush Goyal, noted that India is home to over 2 lakh government-recognised startups, with nearly 48 per cent of these startups having at least one woman director or partner. In a social media post on Friday, he added that the count of government-recognised startups stood at over 44,000 in 2025 alone, marking the highest year since the inception of the Startup India initiative in 2016.

Under the FFS scheme, alternate investment funds (AIFs) supported by the Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI) have invested approximately ₹2,838.9 crore in 154 startups from calendar years 2020 to 2025 (as of October 2025). The fund provides capital to Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)-registered AIFs, which in turn invest in startups. A state-wise breakdown shows that in calendar year 2025 alone, women-led companies in Maharashtra received the highest investment of ₹277.05 crore, followed by Karnataka with ₹264.99 crore and Goa with ₹119.99 crore. In total, more than ₹25,320 crore has been invested in over 1,350 startups under the FFS scheme.

The SISFS, which provides financial assistance to seed-stage startups through incubators, has approved funds worth ₹284.79 crore for 1,635 women-led startups. According to data shared by the government, ₹5.8 crore has been dedicated to women-led startups in Maharashtra in 2025 alone. The scheme was implemented from April 2021, and overall, more than ₹775 crore has been granted as part of the scheme.

The CGSS, implemented in April 2023, aims to enable collateral-free loans to startups. As of October 2025, loans amounting to nearly ₹33.17 crore have been guaranteed to women-led startup borrowers. Notably, the CGSS is operationalised by the National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company Limited (NCGTC).

Goyal also mentioned that more than 16,400 new patent applications were filed by startups, and over 34,800 recognised startups are being onboarded on the Government e-Marketplace (GeM) portal. This initiative is designed to provide a level playing field to these companies, ensuring they have equal opportunities to participate in government procurement processes.

The government's multi-pronged approach to supporting women-led startups is expected to foster a more inclusive and dynamic startup ecosystem in India. By providing financial support, access to capital, and a conducive regulatory environment, the government aims to empower women entrepreneurs and drive innovation and economic growth.