Top 10 Trailblazing Women Entrepreneurs Who Elevated India’s Success
India is a country of diversity, culture and innovation. It is also a country of entrepreneurs who have overcome various challenges and barriers to create successful businesses and social enterprises. a woman entrepreneur Among them, there are many women entrepreneurs who have made a mark in different fields and sectors, inspiring millions of others to follow their dreams and passions. famous women entrepreneurs In this blog post, we will highlight 10 successful women entrepreneurs who elevated India’s success with their achievements and contributions.
Top 10 Successful Female Entrepreneurs in India
Top Women Entrepreneurs
- Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw: Founder of Biocon
- Radhika Ghai: Co-Founder of Shopclues
- Vandana Luthra: Founder of VLCC
- Ashwani Asokana: Founder, Mad Street Den
- Aditi Gupta: Founder and Creator, Menstrupedia
- Ritu Kumar: Founder of Ritu Kumar Brand
- Chitra Gurnani Daga: Co-founder, Thrillophilia
- Falguni Nayar: Founder and CEO of Nykaa
- Suchi Mukherjee: Founder of Limeroad,
- Upasana Taku: Co-founder of MobiKwik
01. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw: Founder of Biocon
She is the founder and chairperson of Biocon, successful women in business one of India’s largest biotechnology companies. successful women entrepreneurs She started Biocon in 1978 as a small enzyme manufacturing firm, and today it is a global leader in biosimilars, novel biologics and branded formulations. famous entrepreneurs female She is also a pioneer in the field of affordable healthcare and has been recognized as one of the world’s most influential people by Time magazine.
02. Radhika Ghai: Co-Founder of Shopclues
Radhika Ghai, the Co-Founder of Shopclues, embarked on her journey in the eCommerce landscape of India after completing her MBA in the United States in 2012. business women in the world successful business women Collaborating with her husband, Sanjay Sethi, she initiated Shopclues as a contender against major players such as Amazon, Flipkart, and Snapdeal. In a mere five years, Shopclues emerged as the favored online marketplace for both merchants and customers, achieving a valuation of USD 1.1 billion.
In 2019, the company was acquired by Qoo10, an eCommerce platform based in Singapore. Presently, Radhika serves as the Founder and CEO of KindLife, a comprehensive platform focusing on beauty and wellness. This platform boasts a collection of over 150 brands spanning categories like beauty, nutrition, and home care.
03. Vandana Luthra: Founder of VLCC
Vandana Luthra is the founder and vice-chairperson of VLCC, one of India’s largest beauty and wellness chains. successful business woman She started VLCC in 1989 as a small beauty salon, and today it has over 300 outlets across 16 countries, offering a range of services and products for health, fitness and beauty. She is also a social activist and philanthropist who supports various causes related to women empowerment, education and environment.
04. Ashwani Asokana: Founder, Mad Street Den
Ashwani Asokana is the originator behind Mad Street Den, a cloud-based platform. famous business women, She joined forces with her husband, Anand Chandrasekaran, to establish this innovative venture. With a substantial background in leading the mobile innovation team at Intel’s Interaction and Experience Research Lab situated in Silicon Valley, Ashwani brings over a decade’s worth of experience from her time in this prominent tech hub. It was within this environment that her fascination with artificial intelligence was ignited.
Ashwani’s diverse journey, encompassing roles such as a mother, UI designer, business development representative, ethnographer, program manager, product manager, and artist, has been integral in shaping her unique trajectory. Adding to her eclectic background, she is a trained classical dancer. Ashwani’s achievements have earned her a spot in Fortune’s esteemed “40 under 40” list. Furthermore, her contributions have garnered attention from publications including Vogue, TechCrunch, Nikkei, and more, solidifying her position as a notable figure in the industry.
05. Aditi Gupta: Founder and Creator, Menstrupedia
Aditi Gupta, the Founder and Creator of Menstrupedia, famous women in business embarked on a mission to educate young girls in India about menstrual cycles and hygiene. She recognized that in the Indian context, subjects like personal hygiene and menstruation were deeply stigmatized, resulting in a lack of awareness and negative repercussions for countless girls.
Gupta’s objective also extended to dismantling the societal taboos associated with terms like “period” and “women.” In India, over 120 girls confront shame daily due to discussions about their periods or the reactions they elicit from others. Motivated by this, Gupta conceived the idea of Menstrupedia, a comic book guide that candidly addresses issues related to periods and sanitation.
This innovative comic book guide transforms real-life experiences into engaging comics designed for girls aged 9 and above. It offers educational content about periods and related matters in an enjoyable format. The comic book has garnered several awards and grants and has established a partnership with Whisper India, a company specializing in sanitary pads for women. Aditi Gupta’s accomplishments have earned her recognition, including a spot in Forbes’ prestigious “30 under 30” list, showcasing her success as a prominent entrepreneur in India.
06. Ritu Kumar: Founder of Ritu Kumar Brand
She is the founder and chief designer of Ritu Kumar, one of India’s oldest and most respected fashion brands. famous women in business She started Ritu Kumar in 1969 as a small boutique, and today it has over 100 stores across India and abroad, offering a range of ethnic wear, bridal wear and western wear. She is also a pioneer in reviving the traditional crafts and textiles of India and promoting them globally.
07. Chitra Gurnani Daga: Co-founder, Thrillophilia
Chitra Gurnani Daga, a graduate of the Indian School of Business, is the co-creator of Thrillophilia, a venture she established alongside her spouse, Abhishek Daga. Despite lacking prior business expertise, Chitra’s fervor for the industry propelled her into this endeavor.
Neither her family nor her husband’s had a background in business, but together, they opted for an innovative path to pursue their aspirations. Driven by her enthusiasm for travel and aiding others in achieving their ambitions, she recruited individuals who shared her zest for adventure and the same level of commitment.
08. Falguni Nayar: Founder and CEO of Nykaa
The founder and CEO of Nykaa, one of India’s leading online beauty platforms, is Falguni Nayar. She started Nykaa in 2012 as an e-commerce portal for cosmetics and personal care products, and today it has over 3 million products from over 1,500 brands, catering to millions of customers across India. She is also a former investment banker who has worked with Kotak Mahindra Bank for over 18 years.
Falguni Nayar has become synonymous with entrepreneurship in India. Drawing from her impressive 25-year tenure in the financial services sector, Falguni embarked on a remarkable journey by establishing Nykaa.com. Armed with extensive experience and a highly successful career, her decision to launch the platform was a bold step. Having graduated from IIM Ahmedabad, Falguni Nayar has masterminded the creation of a beauty and skincare retail empire.
09. Suchi Mukherjee: Founder of Limeroad,
Suchi Mukherjee is the founder and CEO of Limeroad, one of India’s leading online fashion platforms. She started Limeroad in 2012 as a social discovery platform for women’s lifestyle products, and today it has over 25 million products from over 10,000 brands and sellers, offering a curated and personalized shopping experience. She is also a former e-commerce executive who has worked with eBay, Skype and Gumtree.
In 2011, Suchi Mukherjee made her entrepreneurial aspirations a reality upon her return to India from London. Armed with a Master’s Degree in Finance from the London School of Economics, she holds the distinction of being the sole Indian recipient of the Cambridge Commonwealth Trust Scholarship, which supported her studies in Economics at Cambridge University back in 1994.
Throughout her career, she has held roles with prominent brands including Virgin Media, where she served as Director for Change and Business Development, as well as a member of the Consumer Division Management Team. She also worked with notable names like eBay and Skype, assuming positions as Director and being part of the Executive Management Team.
10. Upasana Taku: Co-founder of MobiKwik
Upasana Taku co-founded MobiKwik, a digital payments platform that transformed the way India transacts. This Stanford graduate departed from her secure job in the United States to return to her home country and engage with a non-profit organization in India. Notably, she holds the distinction of being the first woman to helm a payment gateway company in India.
Her guiding philosophy, “kick up a storm or die trying,” has consistently provided her with resilience during challenging moments, enabling her to resurface with even greater determination.
These are just some of the many women entrepreneurs who have made India proud with their achievements and contributions. They have shown that with passion, perseverance and innovation, anything is possible. They have also set an example for the next generation of women entrepreneurs who aspire to make a difference in the world.
FAQs
Q.1- List of Indian Female Entrepreneurs
- Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw: Founder of Biocon
- Radhika Ghai: Co-Founder of Shopclues
- Vandana Luthra: Founder of VLCC
- Ashwani Asokana: Founder, Mad Street Den
- Aditi Gupta: Founder and Creator, Menstrupedia
- Ritu Kumar: Founder of Ritu Kumar Brand
- Chitra Gurnani Daga: Co-founder, Thrillophilia
- Falguni Nayar: Founder and CEO of Nykaa
- Suchi Mukherjee: Founder of Limeroad,
- Upasana Taku: Co-founder of MobiKwik
Q.2- Who is the first woman CEO in India?
The first woman CEO in India was Indra Nooyi. She was the CEO of PepsiCo from 2006 to 2018. During her tenure, she was instrumental in transforming PepsiCo into a more environmentally conscious company and also helped increase the company’s revenue by 80%.
Q.3- Most powerful woman in Indian history?
Indira Gandhi: First Female Prime Minister of India
Q.4- Who was the woman first president of India?
Pratibha Patil was the first woman President of India
Q.5- Who is the most successful business woman in India?
There are many successful businesswomen in India. Some of the most popular ones are:
- Vandana Luthra (Founder at VLCC)
- Aditi Gupta (Founder of Menstrupedia)
- Richa Kar (Co-founder of Zivame)
- Shahnaz Hussian (Founder of Shahnaz Herbals)
- Falguni Nayar (Founder of Nykaa)
- Shradha Sharma (Founder & CEO of YourStory)
- Sheetal Ramkumar (Founder & CEO of WhiteGlobe)
- Kiran Mazumdar Shaw (Founder of Biocon Limited)
Must Read:-
