What kind of woman entrepreneur are we really building for?
This question keeps coming back to me as we grow Women Listed — a platform that now includes over 5,000 women-led ventures across India.
At first glance, the answer should be simple: we're building for women entrepreneurs. But look a little closer, and you’ll realize — women in business don’t fit into neat boxes.
Some are running solo from their kitchens, baking cakes or curating hampers, juggling kids and customer calls. Some are building startups with pitch decks and seed funding. Others are the second or third generation in a family business, trying to modernize legacy systems while respecting tradition. Some run coaching practices, healing spaces, handmade brands — and many do all of this while also being primary caregivers.
Their businesses are different. Their goals are different. Their timelines, their ambitions, even their definitions of success — all different.
And yet, they are often grouped together under one broad label: "women-led."
The truth is, India’s women-led business ecosystem is wildly fragmented — and deeply underrepresented. According to the Sixth Economic Census, there are over 15.7 million women-owned businesses in India — but a majority of them are single-person enterprises. No teams. No formal setup. Just women making it work.
Only about 14% of startups in India are founded by women, and most remain bootstrapped or underfunded. Even among formal businesses, many are still operating through WhatsApp, word-of-mouth, or local exhibitions. Digital infrastructure is not a given — it’s a barrier.
So, how do you build one platform that serves such a diverse universe of women?
At Women Listed, we’ve realized that the real common thread isn’t industry, income, or investment. It’s something deeper.
It’s the desire to be taken seriously.
To be seen, yes — but also to be found, respected, and supported.
For some, that means access to new audiences. For others, it’s a business listing that lends credibility. For some, it's the ability to learn new skills, understand digital tools, or simply be in a room with others who get it.
What we’re trying to do is create a platform where all of that is possible — where a woman baking cupcakes from home and a woman building a wellness startup can both find their place, their path, and their people.
It’s not easy. But it’s necessary.
Because women aren’t looking for just another community. They’re looking for systems. Pipelines. Possibilities.
And we owe it to them to build better.
I am one of us too:)
Note: This reflection comes from Women Listed Founder, Ms. Meeta Gutgutia
Also Read: Making Women-Owned Businesses Discoverable - The Women Listed Story
Also Read: From Safe Spaces to Growth Spaces - The Power of Women’s Business Communities
