More than 1.07 lakh DPIIT-recognised startups had at least one woman director or partner as on 31 March 2026, about 48% of all recognised startups, according to DPIIT. The exact count on 31 January 2026 was 1,02,054 out of 2,12,283. Funds backed by the Fund of Funds for Startups had put around ₹2,995 crore into women-led startups since 2020.
Source · DPIIT, figure for March 2026 · checked
DPIIT counts a startup if at least one of its directors or partners is a woman. That is not the same as a startup founded or owned mainly by women. The count includes startups later closed.
| Measure | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Startups with a woman director or partner, 31 March 2026 | more than 1.07 lakh | DPIIT (PIB), 17 April 2026 |
| Share of recognised startups, 31 March 2026 | approximately 48% | DPIIT (PIB), 17 April 2026 |
| Startups with a woman director or partner, 31 January 2026 | 1,02,054 of 2,12,283 | DPIIT (PIB), 17 March 2026 |
| Invested in women-led startups since 2020 | around ₹2,995 crore | DPIIT (PIB), 17 March 2026 |
Since inception, the number of recognized startups has crossed 2.23 lakh as on 31st March 2026, generating more than 23.36 lakh direct jobs. More than 1.07 lakh recognized startups have at least one woman director or partner, accounting for approximately 48% of total recognized startups.
As on 31st January 2026, a total of 2,12,283 entities have been recognised as startups by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT). Of the total entities recognised as startups, 1,02,054 entities have at least one-woman director/partner.
As on 31st January 2026, supported AIFs under the Scheme have invested around Rs. 25,859 crore in selected startups. Further, from 2020 onwards, around Rs. 2,995 crore have been invested in women-led startups by AIFs under the Scheme, as on 31 st January 2026.
As per the MCA, 6,789 recognised startups are categorized as closed (i.e., dissolved/struck-off). Of the total number of entities which are categorized as closed (i.e., dissolved/struck-off), 2,950 have at least one-woman director/partner.
with more than 45% of recognised startups having at least one-woman Director/Partner as of December 2025 .
Worked out by us: 48.07 (1,02,054 divided by 2,12,283 (DPIIT, 31 January 2026), as a percentage, rounded to two decimals).
About 48% as on 31 March 2026 (DPIIT, PIB). It was more than 45% as of December 2025.
Around ₹2,995 crore from 2020 to 31 January 2026, invested by funds supported under the Fund of Funds for Startups (DPIIT, PIB).
More than 2.23 lakh as on 31 March 2026 (DPIIT, PIB). Our startups page carries the later 30 June 2026 count.
This figure is from DPIIT's own release or a report quoting it. We recheck it quarterly. If you have a newer or better source, send it to us.
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