International Women’s Day is a time to celebrate the amazing achievements and contributions of women entrepreneurs in India. Today, we’re taking a look at the ten most-talked-about women founders in India according to the Wizikey Report.
From Divya Gokulnath of Byju’s to Vani Kola of Kalaari Capital and beyond, these incredible women have made their mark in their respective fields, demonstrating that hard work and dedication can take you far. Whether it’s developing innovative products or challenging the status quo and disrupting industries, these ladies are doing amazing things to make India a better place.
| 1. | Divya Gokulnath | Byju’s |
| 2. | Vineeta Singh | SUGAR Cosmetics |
| 3. | Kiran Mazumdar | Biocon |
| 4. | Falguni Nayar | Nykaa |
| 5. | Ghazal Alagh | Mamaearth |
| 6. | Upasana Taku | MobiKwik |
| 7. | Vani Kola | Kalaari Capital |
| 8. | Suchitra Ella | Bharat biotech |
| 9. | Naiyaa Saggi | The Good Glamm Group |
| 10. | Swati Bhargava | CashKaro |
By taking a closer look at these inspiring female entrepreneurs working in various industries throughout India, this report reveals how their unique stories are redefining what it means to be an Indian woman founder.
- Divya Gokulnath – Byju’s
Divya Gokulnath is the most visible woman founder, making the maximum headlines. She is one of the co-founders of Byju’s, an ed-tech company that has revolutionized the way students learn in India. She has also been a vocal advocate for the importance of education in India and has been involved in various initiatives aimed at improving access to education for underprivileged children.
She also encouraged young women entrepreneurs and students to keep learning while they are still figuring out their paths, since it will help them become more capable at their respective crafts. This is something that has been echoed by many other business women as well – focus on learning for personal growth no matter where you are in your career journey.
2. Vineeta Singh – SUGAR Cosmetics
Reigning in second place is Vineeta Singh, who co-founded Sugar Cosmetics, a popular cosmetic brand, and also appeared as a shark on the Indian version of the popular show Shark Tank, and gained significant visibility due to her presence on the show.
She is no stranger to adversity – she was only 23 when she declined a 1 Crore job offer to start her entrepreneurial journey. Today, she is the CEO and Co-Founder of SUGAR Cosmetics.
3. Kiran Mazumdar – Biocon
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw is one of India’s most prominent and influential businesswomen. She is the founder and chairperson of Biocon Limited. She has been recognized globally for her contribution to the biotech field and is known for her philanthropic efforts. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw has been listed in Forbes’ list of the world’s most powerful women and has won several awards for her work
4. Falguni Nayar- Nykaa
Falguni Nayar is the founder and CEO of Nykaa, India’s premier online beauty store. In 2020, Nykaa became the first Indian Unicorn start-up headed by a woman.
Nayar’s success comes from her determination to make Nykaa a top-tier global beauty destination. She pioneered using technology to bring together the finest brands in personal care, cosmetics and wellness. With Nykaa, customers have access to thousands of products from over 850 brands – all in one place.
Nykaa has revolutionized the way Indian women shop for beauty products by giving them access to world-class products from well-known brands across categories like skincare, bodycare, haircare, makeup and fragrances. The website also offers valuable advice about how to use products safely and effectively to ensure desired results. Nayar has helped many women unleash their inner beauty and discover a new version of themselves through her commitment to creating an inclusive and diverse ecommerce platform.
5. Ghazal Alagh – Mamaearth
In 2022, Ghazal Alagh made quite the name for herself as a prominent figure in the Indian business community. As the founder of Mama Earth, a company specialising in natural and eco-friendly personal care products, Alagh has been making waves with her innovative and sustainable approach to consumer goods. One of her most notable appearances was as a Shark in Shark Tank India season 1. Furthermore, Mama Earth is set to launch an IPO in the near future, which is sure to create even more buzz around the company and its founder.
It’s not just about the products – Mamaearth invests in education for women throughout rural India and promotes environmental conservation initiatives through their sustainable practices. With Ghazal at the helm, it’s no surprise Mamaearth is one of India’s leading natural baby care brands today!
6. Upasana Taku – MobiKwik
Upasana Taku is the co-founder of MobiKwik, India’s first mobile payments platform, which enables millions of consumers to make secure digital payments over their smartphones. Since its launch in 2009, the company has grown from a startup to one of India’s leading digital payment solutions providers.
Before joining MobiKwik, Upasana had worked in several banking and technology companies. She brings with her an extensive knowledge of mobile banking and payment technology which has enabled her to successfully lead MobiKwik’s growth.
Her initiatives at MobiKwik have brought about stunning results: the company now has more than 120 million users and processes over 500 million transactions annually. With a dream to make India a cashless society, she has been working with banks and governments alike to create a conducive environment for the adoption of online payments. With her leadership skills and immense commitment towards customer satisfaction, she has been instrumental in making MobiKwik one of the most reliable digital payment solutions in India.
7. Vani Kola – Kalaari Capital
Vani Kola, founder and CEO of Kalaari Capital, is one of the country’s most talked-about women founders. She has been identified as one of the Fortune Most Powerful women in business, but that isn’t all she’s known for. Kalaari Capital stands out among other venture capital businesses in India with its mission to provide top quality advice and resources to entrepreneurs and startup teams.
Kalaari also launched CXXO, an initiative that promotes and supports female founder-CEO-led startups. This initiative works to increase investments in female entrepreneurs through partnerships with global organizations, enabling them to access valuable resources and advice. These investments are key to providing women with greater social power, leadership positions and the opportunity for public recognition that can come from success.
In short, Vani Kola has built a successful venture capital firm dedicated to helping young entrepreneurs reach their goals in a sustainable way. With projects such as CXXO, she is inspiring more young female entrepreneurs to become founders and industry leaders.
8. Suchitra Ella – Bharat Biotech
Suchitra Ella is the co-founder and Joint Managing Director of Bharat Biotech, India’s renowned biotechnology firm. Suchitra is the driving force behind Bharat Biotech’s success. Her vision to create innovative vaccines and drugs has made this company a leader in the biotech industry.
In 2008, Suchitra founded Bharat Biotech as a venture with her husband Krishna Ella. The company has gone on to become one of the largest vaccine producers in India and has earned accolades for its focus on creating affordable vaccines for diseases like chickenpox, flu and rabies.
Through Suchitra’s leadership, Bharat Biotech has created some of the most successful partnerships in the healthcare space – from associations with global health organizations to collaborations with leading research institutes. Her collaborations have helped bring innovation to Indian medicine and have pushed the boundaries of research in both biotechnology and pharmaceuticals.
9. Naiyaa Saggi – The Good Glamm
Naiyaa Saggi has been making waves in the Indian beauty market ever since she founded The Good Glamm in 2017.
The former Goldman Sachs analyst knows the key to success lies in providing innovative solutions to existing problems. After recognizing the need for cruelty-free and all-natural cosmetics, Saggi took matters into her own hands and created Good Glamm.
Saggi’s commitment to giving back and educating customers has earned her widespread recognition, placing her among India’s 10 most talked-about women founders according to the Wizikey Report. Thanks to The Good Glamm, consumers now have access to responsibly-sourced beauty products that nourish and enhance their natural features.
10. Swati Bhargava – CashKaro
Out of the 10 most talked-about women founders in India, Swati Bhargava is no doubt one of the most influential. As founder of CashKaro, she has managed to disrupt the Indian e-commerce landscape with her revolutionary approach to digital promotions and cashback solutions.
Under Bhargava’s pioneering leadership, CashKaro has grown from a small startup to one of India’s leading e-commerce based promotions companies. To date, over 3 million customers have already signed up for CashKaro’s services and the number continues to grow day by day. It’s no wonder then that Bhargava is celebrated as one of India’s most successful female entrepreneurs.
Conclusion
Commenting on the report, Aakriti Bhargava, Co-founder of Wizikey says, “The narrative of women in business is changing. Female entrepreneurs are not only breaking through the glass ceiling and thriving but also making their mark on the Indian economy. These female entrepreneurs are proving that the future of business is not just male-dominated, but rather a vibrant and inclusive space where anyone with the right mindset and determination can succeed. Indeed, as more and more women founders enter the business world and achieve success, we can expect to see even more exciting changes in the years to come.”
The report is based on News Score, a standardized metric that measures news visibility for brands & individuals by analyzing the volume of news, headlines presence, the reach of publications, and much more.