AIFs Invested 28.38 Bn In 154 Women-Led Startups

Startup Ecosystem Funded By 3 Flagship Schemes; Key measures to support women-led startups and promote women entrepreneurship

Minister of State for Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Shri Jitin Prasada

FinTech BizNews Service

Mumbai, 12 December 2025: Under the Startup India initiative, the Government is implementing three flagship Schemes, namely, Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS), Startup India Seed Fund Scheme (SISFS) and Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS) to support startups across categories and sectors at various stages of their business cycle.

FFS has been established to catalyze venture capital investments and is operationalized by Small Industries Development Bank of India (SIDBI), which provides capital to Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI)-registered Alternative Investment Funds (AIFs) which in turn invest in startups. Supported AIFs have invested around Rs. 2,838.9 crore in 154 women-led startups in calendar years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025, as on 31st October 2025. The State/Union Territory (UT)-wise and year-wise details are placed as Annexure-I.

SISFS provides financial assistance to seed stage startups through incubators. SISFS is implemented from 1st April 2021. As on 31st October 2025, supported incubators under the Scheme have approved funds of around Rs 284.79 crore to 1,635 women-led startups. The State/UT-wise and year-wise details are placed as Annexure-II.

CGSS is implemented for enabling collateral free loans to startups through eligible financial institutions [Member Institutes (MIs)]. CGSS is operationalized by the National Credit Guarantee Trustee Company (NCGTC) Limited and has been operationalized from 1st April 2023. As on 31st October 2025, 24 loans amounting to around Rs 33.17 crore have been guaranteed to women-led startup borrowers under CGSS. The State/UT-wise and year-wise details are placed as Annexure-III.

(The sector-wise number of women-led startups supported by selected AIFs under the FFS, and amount invested in them in calendar years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 as on 31st October 2025 is placed as Annexure-IV.

The sector-wise number of women-led startups selected by incubators under the SISFS, and funds approved to them in calendar years 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 as on 31st October 2025 is placed as Annexure-V.

The sector-wise details of number and amount of loans guaranteed to women-led startup borrowers under CGSS in calendar years 2023, 2024, and 2025 as on 31st  October 2025 is placed as Annexure-VI.

It would be difficult to put together a statistic covering all types of new businesses and their success rate with any level of accuracy or lack of subjectivity. Therefore, the information with respect to the success rate of these startups is not centrally maintained by the Government.

The Government is undertaking various initiatives on pan-India basis to provide mentorship and training for women entrepreneurs. Details of such initiatives are placed as Annexure-VII.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Ministry of Commerce & Industry, Shri Jitin Prasada, in a written reply in the Rajya Sabha today.

Key measures to support women-led startups and promote women entrepreneurship:

1. Women-led applicants are incentivized under the flagship schemes of Fund of Funds for Startups (FFS) and Credit Guarantee Scheme for Startups (CGSS).
2. Capacity building programs such as the Women Capacity Development Programme (WING), Virtual Incubation Programs, Startup Learning Program for Women in Technology, Accelerating Women Entrepreneurs Program support women-led startups and women entrepreneurs in their startup journey.
3. Outreach and awareness measures include a dedicated webpage on Startup India Hub portal detailing Government measures, Accelerating Startup Calibre & Entrepreneurial Drive (ASCEND) Startup Workshop Series for north-eastern region, SuperStree Podcast, Women for Startups workshops with States/UTs, and information dissemination through various media platforms to reach women-led startups and entrepreneurs across the country.
4. Women-led startups and entrepreneurs are also recognised for their progress and achievements through measures and initiatives such as interaction of women entrepreneurs with the Hon’ble President of India, specific provisions in the States’ Startup Ranking exercise to encourage support for women-led startups in States/UTs and special category for women-led startups in National Startup Awards (NSA).
5. Apart from the above-mentioned measures, other Ministries and Departments have also implemented programmes and initiatives to support women entrepreneurship such as Digital Marketing and Entrepreneurship Development for Women Self Help Groups (WSHGs), Adivasi Mahila Sashaktikaran Yojana (AMSY), Women Entrepreneurship Development Programme (WEDP), Science and Technology for Women (STW) programme, Swavalambini – Women Entrepreneurship Programme, Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP), Skill Upgradation and Mahila Coir Yojana, etc.

The sector-wise number of women-led startups supported by selected AIFs under the FFS, and amount invested in them in calendar years 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024, and 2025 as on 31st October 2025 are as under:

(Amounts in Rs. crore)