India has over 600 million women. Less than 30% are in the workforce. That’s not a talent gap. It’s an access gap. As India’s largest career engagement platform for women, HerKey is helping bridge that gap by connecting women to opportunities, mentorship, learning, and the networks they need to thrive. Because when more women step into work and grow, India doesn’t just change. It moves forward.

The CXXO State of Female Entrepreneurship in India Report captures the evolving landscape of women-led ventures in India. It highlights the progress made, uncovers the challenges that persist, and provides actionable insights to drive meaningful change. Biases—both conscious and unconscious—continue to impact women founders’ journeys. Despite these barriers, women entrepreneurs are redefining resilience and building ventures with courage and determination.

Of every ₹100 deployed by Indian venture capital, less than ₹4 reaches startups with women founders as CEOs. This isn't a pipeline problem. It's a structural mispricing — and this report maps its origins, its compounding effects, and what correcting it means for returns over the next decade.