Inspiring leaders are reshaping India’s business world. They come from different backgrounds, yet they all share determination and vision. These women have built successful brands across various industries, from beauty to biotech, and continue to break barriers every day. This list highlights ten remarkable women entrepreneurs in India who have not only grown their companies but also empowered others along the way. Through their journeys, they show that with hard work, anything is possible. Their achievements encourage more women to dream big and lead the way to a brighter future. Let’s dive in and discover what makes these women true entrepreneurs.
Here’s the list of the top 10 women entrepreneurs in India based on their net worth
1. Falguni Nayar
- Net Worth: ₹30,067 crore
- Company: Nykaa
- Designation: Founder and CEO
- Age: 61
Falguni Nayar is a well-known Indian entrepreneur and the CEO of Nykaa, a leading beauty and wellness e-commerce platform. Her journey is inspiring for women entrepreneurs in India, showing resilience, vision, and an entrepreneurial spirit.
Born in Mumbai, Nayar grew up in a business-focused family, which sparked her early interest in commerce. After her studies at Sydenham College and IIM Ahmedabad, she worked in investment banking at Kotak Mahindra, where she rose to Managing Director.
In 2012, at 50, she founded Nykaa with a $2 million investment. Nayar’s vision was to provide Indian women with a reliable source of beauty products. Nykaa became India’s first unicorn led by a woman, reaching a $13 billion valuation in 2021.
Today, Nayar is celebrated as one of the most successful women entrepreneurs in India, proving that age is no barrier to success.
2. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw
- Net Worth: ₹30,067 crore
- Company: Biocon
- Designation: Founder
- Age: 71
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw is a pioneering figure among women entrepreneurs in India. She founded Biocon Limited, a leading biopharmaceutical company, in a small garage in Bangalore in 1978. Starting with just ₹10,000, she built Biocon into a major player in the biotech industry, making life-saving drugs affordable for people worldwide. Her journey showcases resilience, especially as she faced early challenges due to limited resources and biases.
Kiran’s achievements go beyond business. She established the Biocon Foundation, which works to improve healthcare and education in rural India. Her work has earned her prestigious awards, such as the Othmer Gold Medal and the Padma Bhushan, as well as a place among successful women entrepreneurs in India. Through her leadership, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw inspires millions, proving that with determination, one can make a difference in both business and society.
3. Radhika Ghai Aggarwal
- Net Worth: ₹22,147 crore
- Company: ShopClues
- Designation: Co-founder and Chief Business Officer
- Age: 44
Radhika Ghai Aggarwal is one of the top women entrepreneurs in India, co-founding ShopClues, a popular online marketplace. Her journey from a corporate background to creating ShopClues shows her passion for business and dedication to empowering others.
After studying at Panjab University, Radhika completed her MBA in the U.S. and gained work experience with top firms. In 2011, she co-founded ShopClues to serve India’s online shoppers, especially in smaller cities. Her efforts helped ShopClues grow quickly and reach a $1.1 billion valuation, making her one of the most successful women entrepreneurs in India.
Beyond her business, Radhika mentors young female entrepreneurs and supports women’s empowerment. Her awards, like the “Woman Entrepreneur of the Year” in 2016, highlight her impact. Today, she remains an inspiring role model for many, proving that women entrepreneurs in India can lead with vision and resilience.
4. Upasana Taku
- Net Worth: ₹8000 crore
- Company: MobiKwik
- Designation: Co-founder and COO
- Age: 43
Upasana Taku stands out as one of the top women entrepreneurs in India. She co-founded MobiKwik, a well-known digital payments platform, transforming how people make transactions in a country long reliant on cash.
Born in Shimla, she earned an engineering degree from NIT Jalandhar, followed by a Master’s in Management Science from Stanford University. Her journey in fintech began at PayPal, where she gained insights into payment systems and customer needs. This experience inspired her to create a user-friendly digital wallet for Indian users.
In 2009, Upasana co-founded MobiKwik with her husband, Bipin Preet Singh, focusing on making digital payments accessible to everyone. MobiKwik became a significant player in the digital payments ecosystem and was recognized as a unicorn startup in April 2021 with a valuation exceeding $1 billion. She actively supports women’s empowerment in business, encouraging other women to pursue their dreams. Her contributions have earned her many awards, including Forbes Asia’s Women to Watch and the Economic Times Woman Ahead Award.
5. Smita Deorah
- Net Worth: ₹1,390 crore
- Company: LEAD School
- Designation: Co-Founder
- Age: 41
Smita Deorah is a well-known Indian entrepreneur and co-founder of LEAD Scool, an education technology company focused on improving affordable private schools across India. As one of the successful women entrepreneurs in India, she has worked hard to make learning better for students.
Growing up in a business family, Smita always aimed high. She studied at Narsee Monjee College and became a Chartered Accountant, later joining top programs at Harvard and Stanford. Before starting LEAD, she spent nine years in finance at Procter & Gamble, which helped build her leadership skills.
Smita co-founded LEAD in 2012 to give children a strong learning experience. Today, LEAD supports millions of students in thousands of schools. Smita’s work has earned her many awards, including the Economic Times 40 Under 40. She continues to inspire as one of the top women entrepreneurs in India.
6. Vandana Luthra
- Net Worth: ₹1,300 crores
- Company: VLCC Health Care Ltd
- Designation: Founder
- Age: 64
Vandana Luthra is a well-known Indian entrepreneur and the founder of VLCC, a top beauty and wellness company. Her journey as one of the successful women entrepreneurs in India shows her dedication to beauty, health, and helping others.
Vandana was born on July 12, 1959, in New Delhi. Her parents’ professions inspired her early on; her father was a mechanical engineer, and her mother was an Ayurvedic doctor. After studying at Lady Shriram College, she trained in beauty and nutrition in Germany.
In 1989, Vandana started VLCC in New Delhi with a focus on wellness, not just looks. She wanted VLCC to improve health and beauty together. Today, VLCC is in India and many other countries, offering services like skincare and haircare.
She supports women’s empowerment and believes in giving back to the community. Her hard work earned her the Padma Shri and other awards, making her a role model among famous women entrepreneurs in India.
7. Richa Kar
- Net Worth: ₹749 crores
- Company: Zivame
- Designation: Founder and CEO
- Age: 43
Richa Kar is a well-known Indian entrepreneur and the co-founder of Zivame, a major online lingerie brand. She built Zivame to make lingerie shopping easy and comfortable for women across India. Her journey shows how much determination and hard work can achieve.
Richa grew up in a traditional family, which made it challenging to enter the lingerie business. However, her education at BITS Pilani and NMIMS in Mumbai prepared her well. In 2011, she launched Zivame to help women find the right fit without any awkwardness. Zivame quickly became popular, promoting body positivity and empowerment through its products and campaigns.
Richa Kar’s success has made her one of the top women entrepreneurs in India. Her story inspires others, showing that women entrepreneurs in India can succeed despite challenges.
8. Namita Thapar
- Net Worth: ₹600 crore
- Company: Thapar Entrepreneur Academy
- Designation: Founder
- Age: 46
Namita Thapar, a renowned woman entrepreneur in India, stands out for her achievements in the pharmaceutical sector and her support for young entrepreneurs. She serves as Executive Director of Emcure Pharmaceuticals, where she has led innovative projects, including India’s first mRNA COVID-19 vaccine. Through the Thapar Entrepreneur Academy, she introduces young people to business skills, from financial literacy to pitching ideas.
Namita’s journey began with her Chartered Accountancy studies in India, followed by an MBA from Duke University. Her career took off in the U.S. but soon led her back to India and Emcure. She is also a prominent figure on Shark Tank India, where she invests in startups like Skippi Ice Pops and Menstrupedia.
A devoted advocate for women’s health and empowerment, Namita shares her insights in her YouTube series, “Uncondition Yourself with Namita Thapar,” and champions young female entrepreneurs in India.
9. Vineeta Singh
- Net Worth: ₹300 crore
- Company: SUGAR Cosmetics
- Designation: Co-Founder and CEO
- Age: 41
Vineeta Singh is a well-known Indian entrepreneur and the CEO of Sugar Cosmetics. She also judges the show “Shark Tank India,” where she helps new businesses grow. Vineeta’s story shows the strength and passion of women entrepreneurs in India.
Born in 1983 in Gujarat, Vineeta studied hard. She graduated from IIT Madras and earned an MBA from IIM Ahmedabad. Vineeta started her first business in 2007 but faced challenges. In 2015, she co-founded Sugar Cosmetics with her husband. The brand quickly became popular for its makeup products designed for Indian skin tones.
Sugar Cosmetics offers a variety of beauty products, all cruelty-free and vegan. The brand’s growth has been impressive, with annual revenues over Rs. 500 crore. Vineeta encourages young women to chase their dreams and believes in the power of perseverance. Her success inspires many aspiring female entrepreneurs in India to follow their passions.
10. Shahnaz Hussian
- Net Worth: ₹250 crores
- Company: The Shahnaz Husain Group
- Designation: Founder
- Age: 79
Shahnaz Husain is a leading Indian entrepreneur known for her work in herbal beauty care. She founded The Shahnaz Husain Group and has helped many women entrepreneurs in India find their way into business.
Shahnaz’s journey began early. She was born into a respected family on November 5, 1944. After her marriage at 14, she studied Ayurveda while living in Iran. In 1971, she opened her first herbal clinic at home, marking the start of her business.
Her business grew quickly. Today, her company has over 400 franchises in more than 138 countries. Shahnaz offers many products, including skincare and hair treatments, creating around 375 unique formulations.
Shahnaz also supports women’s empowerment. She created a training school for the speech and hearing impaired and trained over 40,000 underprivileged women. Shahnaz Husain’s story inspires many aspiring female entrepreneurs in India to chase their dreams.
Conclusion
These women entrepreneurs in India prove that dreams can turn into reality with hard work and courage. They inspire countless others to follow in their footsteps, building a brighter future for everyone. Their stories remind us that no challenge is too big if you believe in yourself. As more women enter the business world, India’s economy and society grow stronger, thanks to their amazing contributions.
FAQs
Who is the first woman entrepreneur in India?
Kalpana Saroj is often recognized as the first woman entrepreneur in India. Known for her inspiring journey from poverty to success, she built Kamani Tubes and is a pioneer in Indian entrepreneurship.
Who is the youngest female entrepreneur in India?
Srilakshmi Suresh, often called India’s youngest entrepreneur, started her journey at the very young age of 11, becoming a successful web designer and developer.
Who is the entrepreneur queen of India?
Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw is widely celebrated as the “entrepreneur queen of India.” As the founder of Biocon, she is a leading figure in the biotechnology industry and a role model for aspiring entrepreneurs.
How many girls are CEO in India?
According to NSE data, there are 100 companies in India with female managing directors or CEOs. In total, 109 executive positions are held by women across these companies.
Who is the father of entrepreneurship?
Economist Joseph Schumpeter is often regarded as the “Father of Entrepreneurship” due to his groundbreaking work on innovation and economic growth.
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