A recent Avendus Wealth–Hurun India Uth Series 2025 report reveals a significant gender imbalance among India’s leading business figures under the age of 40, with only around 8 per cent of those recognised being women. Out of 436 entrepreneurs featured, just 36 are women, underscoring persistent challenges in female representation at the top of India’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
The combined valuation of companies led by this under-40 cohort exceeds $950 billion (roughly ₹83 lakh crore), and they employ over 1.2 million people, highlighting the economic clout of young leadership. However, the low share of women — despite examples of successful female founders — highlights ongoing gender barriers in scaling startups and accessing capital in India’s fast-growing business environment.
Experts analysing the data say societal norms, investor preferences and limited access to networks and funding contribute to the under-representation of women on such lists, even as the overall entrepreneurial landscape grows. The report’s findings suggest a need for targeted policy support, mentorship and investment that can help women founders bridge the gender gap in leadership and ownership roles.
Despite the gap, notable women entrepreneurs continue to gain prominence across sectors, from consumer brands to tech startups, demonstrating that female leadership is increasingly visible — though still not proportionate to the scale of the broader ecosystem.
