The natural gender gap in the populations is quite negligible, in our country. Women are 48.5% as per a recent survey. Despite adverse social barriers, literacy rate of women was around 50.6% in rural India while it was 53.9% in urban.
On the other hand, Women entrepreneurs run only 14% of businesses in India and 80% are bootstrapped. The fact that women are multitasking had been proved, since ages. Yet their chances at raising funds have been very negative.
Another startling fact is, in 2017, just 2% of the funds raised cumulatively in the country went to women led startups which totaled to just $ 242.7 Mn out of the $12 Bn deals that happened in the ecosystem. The amazing fact that needs to be noted that women startups earned 10% more cumulative revenues over a period of five years when compared to their male counterparts.
What could be the reasons! Is it Venture Capitalists trust women less or the eves not putting their right foot forward?
To analyze the situation and to help women startup founders escalate this issue, thereby succeed, an event is organized by ‘The Pink Sparrows’ in Pune on the 18 August, 2018 at TRIOS Co-Working Space.
Three eminent women who wish to help aspiring women founders cross this hurdle, will brief on the aspects that need to be addressed by women. Ms Pooja Shah, MD MIDAS, Dr Reshma Sagari, Women Head, Venture Wolf and Ms Avani Shroff, Co-Founder of Gharobar would help women startups to tide over this, till date an unconquerable peak for many.
However, startups, irrespective of sex factor, face tough hurdles to scale up to the road that leads to success and it is tougher for women. Few steps that they need to take up to steer towards achieving are briefed below.
Women need to be tough-minded optimists, plan their future about marriage and kids. They need to realize their potential and align with like-minded partners. Seek mentorship of peers in the same space, mingle with community and understand the opportunities existing and then move ahead to achieve their dreams.
However, it is more easily said, then done. To know about how to strategize and solve this riddle, one must be well-equipped. Such events help the aspiring find ways to reach the pinnacle.
It is evident that women power if well harnessed, by helping them participate in economic activities would contribute towards much advancement in the economic scenario of the nation. Reducing the gender gap and driving away the disparity thoughts in the mindset, is the order of the day for national development.
Mc Kinsey feels, ‘equal opportunity and a level playing field for Indian men and women in public, private, and social sectors could add $12 trillion to the global GDP by 2025. That is a striking 11 percent increase from current projections.”
Way2World feels such events would help women entrepreneurship thrive and encourage many aspiring to utilize opportunities in their favor. Pune startup ecosystem would positively move ahead post this event. With inputs from internet – RajKishan