Indian startups led by Women raised 75 deals was around $523 million in funding in the first half of  this year. The numbers in funding amount increased by 81 percent YoY compared to last year’s $289  million raised from 62 deals in the first half. Inc42 reported that the Funding activity in the women-led Indian startup ecosystem saw an increase this year, as the number went from 289 million USD raised  in H1 2023 to $523 million for the first half of this year. 

The D2C fashion brand Foxtale led the list with $18 million raised followed by Mobkwik’s $6 million  debt funding round led by Blacksoil. Foxtale is a D2C beauty and skincare startup that offers customized  skin care products according to all skin types. The company secured $18 million in its series B round  led by Panthera Growth Partners with the participation of Matrix Partners India and Kae Capital. The  post-allotment valuation of Foxtale was around $96 million. 

The women-led startups in the fintech sector led the overall funding list with $255 million secured,  followed by enterprise tech startups securing $122 million. The E-commerce sector led the list of the  most number of deals with $101 million secured among 28 deals. Startups from Delhi NCR secured  most deals region-wise with $171 million from 21 deals and Chennai ranked second for the overall  funding with $166 million raised. Peak XV partners announced a women entrepreneur-focused spark  program with 16 female founders to provide women founders with equity-free grants worth $100k  along with mentorship and other services.  

The former minister of women and child development, Smriti Irani previously mentioned many  startups from science and technology not turning commercial and the risk taken by women-led  startups being way too less compared to men. The government of India increased the loans forstartups  to Rs 43 crore and around 70 percent of this loan was given to women entrepreneurs. The government  has been taking several initiatives focused on Women entrepreneurs. Meanwhile, the debt  investments in the Indian startup ecosystem increased by 2 times to $576 million in the first half of  this year compared to last year.  

Conclusion: 

75 deals were made by women-led Indian startups from 1st January to 30^th June securing over $523 million in funding. Foxtale secured the biggest amount, buoyed by its $18 million in fundraising  followed by Mobkwik’s with $6 million raised in its debt funding round. The startups in the fintech  sector dominated the funding with $255 million followed by women-led enterprise tech startups with  $122 million. The government has been launching various programs to help women entrepreneurs and  recently the ministry increased the loans for startups to Rs 43 crore from which around 70 percent of  this loan was given to women entrepreneurs. Most of these startups were from e-commerce, fintech,  fintech, D2C fashion, and enterprise tech sectors followed by cleantech, and consumer services. E commerce startups had the highest number of deals and raised $101 million across 28 deals.