Top 30 Indian Influential Women Entrepreneurs in 2024
In the evolving landscape of entrepreneurship in India, 2024 showcases various influential women leaders who have significantly impacted various industries. This article compiles a list of the top 30 Indian women entrepreneurs, acknowledging their notable contributions across sectors. These individuals, through their innovative ventures and leadership roles, exemplify the dynamic and transformative nature of the entrepreneurial landscape in the country. From technology and finance to healthcare and beyond, these women entrepreneurs have demonstrated resilience and expertise, shaping the business landscape in India.
- Tanvi Malik
Tanvi Malik is an Indian entrepreneur and co-founder of FabAlley and Indya, two popular fashion brands in India. She is an economics graduate from Delhi's Lady Shriram College and holds an MBA in brand management from MICA Ahmedabad. Before starting her entrepreneurial journey, she worked as a brand and product manager for high-end watches at Titan. She, along with her business partner Shivani Poddar, founded High Street Essentials, the parent company of FabAlley and Indya, in 2012. FabAlley offers fashion-forward western wear for Indian women. The duo later launched Indya, an inclusive and accessible fashion brand for Indian women. Tanvi spearheads design, marketing, product, and communication for both companies. She has been recognized for her achievements and was listed as one of the most powerful women in Indian business by Fortune India in 2014.
- Shubhra Chadda
Shubhra Chadda is the co-founder of Chumbak, a lifestyle brand that offers a range of products, including home decor, fashion accessories, and gifts. Chumbak is well-known for its vibrant and unique designs that draw inspiration from India's rich culture and heritage. Shubhra Chadda and her husband Vivek Prabhakar founded Chumbak in 2010 and have since grown it into a lifestyle destination with 20 large-format stores in 11 cities. Chadda is known for her significant contributions to the Indian fashion industry and her role in creating design-focused, India-themed souvenirs. She holds an MBA from the Indian School of Business and has been recognized for her achievements, including being listed as one of the most powerful women in Indian business by Fortune India in 2017.
- Shradha Sharma
Shradha Sharma is an Indian journalist and entrepreneur, known as the founder and CEO of YourStory, a prominent media platform that focuses on entrepreneurial and business stories. She holds a master's degree in history from St. Stephen's College, Delhi, and a master's degree from the Mudra Institute of Communications, Ahmedabad. Before founding YourStory in 2008, Sharma worked as a brand advisor at The Times of India and later as an assistant vice president at the business channel CNBC TV18. She has been recognized for her achievements, including being featured on Fortune's list of the 'Best 40 under 40' entrepreneurs in India. Sharma is highly influential in the Indian startup ecosystem and is known for her passion for sharing and amplifying entrepreneurial stories.
- Aditi Gupta
Aditi Gupta is an Indian entrepreneur and co-founder of Menstrupedia, a website and comic book series that aims to educate girls and boys about menstruation in a fun and informative way. Menstrupedia provides accurate information about menstruation and aims to break the taboo surrounding the topic in India and around the world. She is a social entrepreneur who is recognized for her work and was named one of the BBC's 100 most influential women in 2015, a Forbes India 30 Under 30 achiever, and a World Economic Forum Global Shaper. Her efforts have had a significant impact, with Menstrupedia's educational resources being widely used in over 25 different countries, impacting the lives of over 13 million girls and women. Aditi's work has been featured in prominent media outlets such as The Wall Street Journal, Reuters, CNBC, and the BBC. She is also a TED speaker, sharing her knowledge and experience to address period-related stigmas and promote menstrual health and awareness. Aditi's dedication to creating a future where menstruation is not considered taboo but a welcome change has made her a leading figure in the field of menstrual education and awareness.
- Ashwini Asokan
Ashwini Asokan is the CEO and co-founder of Mad Street Den, a prominent computer vision and artificial intelligence company established in 2016. The company, with a global presence across India, the US, UK, Europe, Latin America, and Japan, focuses on empowering machines with the ability to see and learn, akin to human capabilities. Ashwini, along with her team, is dedicated to bringing cutting-edge AI technology and products to life. She returned to India from Silicon Valley to bootstrap her startup, founded with her husband, Anand Chandrasekaran, a neuroscientist. Ashwini's work at the intersection of technology, people, and complex organizational systems has been instrumental in driving the research and development of advanced mobile products. Ashwini's leadership and expertise have been pivotal in positioning Mad Street Den as a leading player in the AI landscape.
- Chitra Gurnani Daga
Chitra Gurnani Daga is the CEO and co-founder of Thrillophilia, India's leading brand for travel experiences. She holds an MBA in Strategy and Leadership from the Indian School of Business and has been recognized for her outstanding work in tourism by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India. Chitra's entrepreneurial journey is rooted in her deep love and passion for traveling and offbeat experiences, which led her to establish Thrillophilia in 2011. The platform, used by 40 million travelers annually, offers over 15,000 travel experiences worldwide. Chitra's leadership and dedication have been instrumental in scaling Thrillophilia and positioning it as a prominent player in the travel industry. She has been featured in various magazines and digital channels as one of India's top women entrepreneurs and has spoken at industry events on the future of Indian travel. Chitra's entrepreneurial success and her commitment to promoting meaningful travel experiences have made her a respected figure in the travel and tourism sector.
- Richa Kar
Richa Kar is the co-founder and former CEO of Zivame, India's largest online lingerie retailer. She is known for her innovative approach to transforming the lingerie shopping experience for women in India. She has successfully built Zivame into a household name in India. Her leadership and vision have been critical to Zivame's success, and she has been recognized as one of India's top female entrepreneurs. Richa's achievements have earned her mentions in Forbes and Fortune, and she has received numerous awards for her contributions to the e-commerce industry. Despite stepping down as CEO in 2017, Richa Kar maintains her position on the board of directors and has retained her equity in Zivame, which was acquired by Reliance Retail in 2020. After Zivame, she launched Zivame Studios, offering a seamless omni-channel experience to customers, enabling Zivame to reach customers in tier 2 and tier 3 cities across India. According to the Economic Times, her net worth stands at Rs 749 crore.
- Ghazal Alagh
Ghazal Alagh is the co-founder of Mamaearth, a well-known Indian brand that offers natural and toxin-free personal care products for babies, kids, and adults. She co-founded the company with her husband, Varun Alagh, in 2016. She has played a pivotal role in the company's success, leading it to become one of India's fastest-growing FMCG brands. Under her leadership, Mamaearth has diversified its product range and expanded its market presence, achieving significant revenue growth. Ghazal Alagh's entrepreneurial journey and strategic vision have been instrumental in positioning Mamaearth as a frontrunner in the direct-to-consumer (D2C) space. Her commitment to sustainable practices and innovative market strategies has contributed to the company's remarkable performance. Ghazal Alagh has been recognized for her entrepreneurial achievements, including being named one of Forbes' 100 most powerful women in the world. She is a repeat winner of Business Today's The Most Powerful Women in Business list. She has been featured in various media outlets and platforms, including Forbes and Business Today.
- Hemalatha Annamalai
Hemalatha Annamalai is the CEO and co-founder of Ampere Vehicles, an Indian electric mobility company that manufactures electric cycles, scooters, three-wheelers, and specially designed vehicles for the differently-abled. The company was founded in 2008 in Coimbatore, India, with a seed capital of Rs. 5 crore. The idea for Ampere came from the need to take collective responsibility as citizens against reducing oil imports and to provide affordable and sustainable mobility solutions. Hemalatha's initial research and planning went into designing electric vehicles for the differently-abled in Tamil Nadu and Kerala. She has been a key figure in leading the electric vehicle revolution in India and has garnered support from prominent investors such as Ratan Tata and Infosys co-founder Kris Gopalakrishnan. Hemalatha's entrepreneurial journey and her commitment to providing affordable and sustainable mobility solutions have been instrumental in establishing Ampere Vehicles as a leading player in the electric vehicle sector in India. She has also been involved in various entrepreneurial ventures and is known for her contributions to environmental sustainability and job creation.
- Vineeta Singh
Vineeta Singh is an Indian entrepreneur and the CEO and co-founder of Sugar Cosmetics, a leading beauty and makeup brand. Born in 1983, she pursued her education at Delhi Public School, R. K. Puram, and went on to complete her BTech from IIT Madras and an MBA from IIM Ahmedabad. Vineeta's entrepreneurial journey began with the founding of Sugar Cosmetics in 2012, alongside her husband, Kaushik Mukherjee. The brand was established to address the need for quality cosmetics tailored to Indian skin tones. Vineeta's emphasis on product quality and her early adoption of digital marketing strategies contributed to the brand's rapid growth and success. Her leadership style, characterized by a hands-on approach, has been pivotal to Sugar Cosmetics' achievements. Vineeta's commitment to empowering women is evident in her goal of hiring 10,000 women for her business, with 75% of the current workforce being women. She has also been a judge on Shark Tank India, further showcasing her influence in the entrepreneurial landscape.