Maharashtra has been officially recognized as India’s startup capital, with a remarkable distinction of nearly 45% of its registered startups being led by women entrepreneurs. This announcement was made by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis at the inauguration of the Innovation Mahakumbh 2025 held at SNDT Women’s University in Mumbai. The chief minister highlighted how this significant representation of women-led ventures is a source of pride for the state and crucial to India’s economic ambitions, particularly the goal of becoming a USD 5 trillion economy. Maharashtra’s youth and women entrepreneurs are expected to play a pivotal role in driving this growth.
The state’s ambitious Startup, Entrepreneurship & Innovation Policy 2025, approved by the Maharashtra cabinet, underpins this progress. The policy envisions nurturing 50,000 startups and empowering 125,000 entrepreneurs over the next five years, focusing on inclusive growth across all regions and sectors. Financial support mechanisms include a Rs 500 crore Maha-Fund designed to back 25,000 grassroots entrepreneurs selected from a pool of five lakh candidates. Additional provisions include seed funding, subsidized loans, incubation infrastructure, intellectual property rights reimbursements, and a planned 300-acre Maharashtra Innovation City in Navi Mumbai. The policy also promotes youth-focused initiatives such as Student Innovation Challenges, Startup Yatras, and the establishment of entrepreneurship cells in educational institutions
National data corroborates the state’s leadership in women-led startups. As of late 2024, India had over 73,000 startups recognized by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), with at least one woman director in 48% of these ventures. Women-led startups number over 7,000 active enterprises nationwide, comprising roughly 7.5% of the country’s active startup ecosystem. Maharashtra’s 45% concentration of women-led startups significantly exceeds these national averages, positioning it at the forefront of female entrepreneurship in India.
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