List of Top 10 Successful Women Entrepreneurs in India

Female entrepreneurs in India are known for their groundbreaking achievements, leadership in creating and growing their businesses, and significant contributions to their industries and society. Some of the notable names include Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, Falguni Nayar, Radhika Ghai, and many more. In this article, we are going to learn the list of 10 Successful Women Entrepreneurs in India and their achievements in their respective fields.

List of Top 10 Women Entrepreneurs in India

The list of most successful female entrepreneurs in India is based on the impact of these women entrepreneurs on their respective industries, the success and innovation of their businesses, their influence and leadership within the business community, and their contributions to society. Factors such as company valuation, revenue, growth, personal achievements, awards, and recognition in national and international forums also play an important role in deciding the rankings. Here is the list of top 10 women entrepreneurs in India,

Rank	Name	Company/Enterprise	Industry
1	Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw	Biocon Limited	Biotechnology
2	Vandana Luthra	VLCC Health Care Ltd.	Wellness & Beauty
3	Falguni Nayar	Nykaa	E-commerce/Beauty
4	Suchi Mukherjeei	LimeRoad	E-commerce/Fashion
5	Radhika Ghai	ShopClues	E-commerce
6	Ritu Kumar	Ritu Kumar Label	Fashion Design
7	Shahnaz Husain	Shahnaz Herbals Inc.	Beauty & Wellness
8	Aditi Gupta	Menstrupedia	Health Education
9	Upasana Taku	MobiKwik	Fintech
10	Richa Kar	Zivame	E-commerce/Lingerie

1. Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw

Kiran Mazumdar Shaw, an Indian businesswoman, is widely recognized for her outstanding contributions to the biotechnology industry. Biocon India quickly gained recognition as a pioneer in the field. Within a year, it became the first Indian company to export enzymes to the United States and Europe. However, Mazumdar Shaw encountered numerous challenges along the way.

In 2000, the World Economic Forum named her a “Technology Pioneer.” Ernst & Young honored her as the best entrepreneur in the field of healthcare and life sciences in 2002. She was also recognized as the businesswoman of the year by the Economic Times in 2004. In 2005, Mazumdar Shaw received the prestigious Padma Bhushan award, one of India’s highest civilian honors, for her pioneering work in industrial biotechnology.

• Founder of Biocon Limited, Asia’s leading biopharmaceuticals enterprise.
• Pioneer in the biotechnology industry in India, focusing on innovation in healthcare.
• Awards: Padma Shri (1989), Padma Bhushan (2005), EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year (2020).
• Impacts: Made significant contributions to affordable medicine and research in biotechnology.

2. Vandana Luthra

Vandana Luthra, an influential figure in the wellness industry, is renowned as the founder of VLCC, a globally recognized brand focused over health and beauty solutions. With a visionary idea, she has transformed countless lives through innovative skincare, weight management programs, and wellness initiatives.

• Founded VLCC Health Care Ltd. in 1989, a beauty and wellness giant.
• Pioneer in the health and wellness industry, offering a range of services and products.
• Awards: Padma Shri (2013), Enterprise Asia’s Woman Entrepreneur of the Year (2010).
• Impacts: Expanded VLCC to over 300 locations in 12 countries.

3. Falguni Nayar

Falguni Nayar, the name which doesn’t need any introduction in the field of beauty and cosmetic products. The founder of Nykaa, who quit the job of being at reputed position, MD at Kotak Mahindra Capital, is recognized as an inspiration for many other women. In 2012, she founded Nykaa, which has more than 1,000 brands across the world in its portfolio.

• Founded Nykaa in 2012, a leading beauty retailer in India.
• Background: Former managing director at Kotak Mahindra Capital Company.
• Awards: Forbes India Leadership Award (2021), EY Entrepreneur of the Year (2019).
• Impacts: Nykaa is a unicorn startup, revolutionizing the Indian beauty industry.

4. Suchi Mukherjee

Suchi Mukherjee, who comes from a middle-class background, is the creative mind behind LimeRoad, an online marketplace. LimeRoad is the first women’s social shopping website in India, having launched in 2012. It sells apparel and accessories for men, women, and children. She has won various awards thus far. One of her greatest achievements is that, in 2011 the World Women’s Forum ranked her as the top “Rising Talent-Global Leaders Under 40” out of 15 candidates.

• Founded LimeRoad in 2012, an online marketplace for women’s clothing and accessories.
• Background: Held senior positions at eBay, Skype, and Gumtree.
• Recognition: Infocom Woman of the Year (Digital Business), 2015.
• Impacts: LimeRoad has become a popular platform for women entrepreneurs to sell products.

5. Radhika Ghai

In 2011, Radhika Ghai and Sandeep Aggrawal co-founded ShopClues, marking the start of her entrepreneurial career. There, she held the position of chief business officer. ShopClues gained popularity fast with the goal of bringing Indian bazaars online and serving customers in tier 2 and tier 3 cities. The business attained unicorn status in 2016, making history as the fourth unicorn in India and enhancing Ghai’s standing as a leader in the e-commerce sector.

• Co-founder of ShopClues, India’s first managed marketplace that connects buyers and sellers online.
• Background: MBA from Washington University in St. Louis; worked in advertising and marketing.
• Achievement: First Indian woman co-founder to enter the Unicorn Club.
• Impacts: ShopClues is known for its highly diversified product range.

6. Ritu Kumar

The biggest and most reputable designer clothing brand in India right now is Ritu Kumar. She has brought a distinct style since 1969, incorporating modern terminology with the age-old Indian artisan techniques. The company is currently well-known for its exquisite embroidery, superior fabrics, unique color scheme, and magnificently rich Indian aesthetic. She has received the fourth highest civilian award of India, Padma Shri in 2013 for her remarkable achievements and being an inspiration for various ladies.

• Pioneer of the boutique culture in India with the brand Ritu Kumar.
• Career: Over five decades in fashion, blending traditional craftsmanship with contemporary design.
• Awards: Padma Shri (2013), Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres (France).
• Impacts: Promoted Indian textiles and craftsmanship globally.

7. Shahnaz Husain

One of India’s most successful female entrepreneurs and the creator of Ayurvedic beauty care, Shahnaz Husain, has spread Ayurveda throughout the world. She currently serves as the CEO of the Shahnaz Husain Group of Companies, which operates 380 Ayurvedic formulas for beauty and health care as well as a global network of franchise salons, retail stores, and beauty training academies.

Shahnaz has given Ayurvedic lectures at prestigious worldwide universities. She gave a talk at Harvard Business School and was featured in a case study on brand development at Harvard.

• Founder of Shahnaz Herbals Inc., a company specializing in natural beauty and wellness products.
• Innovation: Introduced herbal care and cure to the beauty industry.
• Awards: Padma Shri (2006), Success Magazine’s “World’s Greatest Woman Entrepreneur” (1996).
• Impacts: Global presence with a range of over 200 herbal products.

8. Aditi Gupta

Menstrupedia, the most innovative company in the world for period education and learning, is led by Aditi Gupta. She has trained 10,000 educators, taught over 50,000 girls about their periods, and positively influenced the lives of 13 million girls globally.

Her Menstrupedia Comic teaches young girls about periods in an entertaining and educational way by combining narration and sequential art. These comic comics are taught in more than 25,500 Indian schools as part of the curriculum. The Menstrupedia Comic is utilized in 23 nations worldwide and is accessible in 20 languages. More than 1.5 million Indian parents approve of her culturally sensitive teaching methods. Aditi’s efforts to dispel the stigma associated with menstruation earned her a spot on Forbes India 30 under 30 in 2014.

• Co-founded Menstrupedia, a friendly guide to healthy periods, with Tuhin Paul.
• Mission: Address the taboo surrounding menstruation in India.
• Recognition: Listed in Forbes India 30 Under 30, 2014.
• Impacts: Menstrupedia’s comic books and website educate young girls on menstruation.

9. Upasana Taku

Upasana Taku co-founded MobiKwik with her husband, and she serves as both the company’s CEO and board chair. She graduated from Punjab Technical University with a degree in engineering. She later earned a master’s degree in management science and engineering from Stanford University. She has over 17 years of experience working in relevant fields. Prior to starting her own company, she was a product manager for the American payments company PayPal. She worked for HSBC as well. She had lived in the US before, but in 2008 she returned to India to start her business.

• Co-founder of MobiKwik, a leading digital financial services platform in India.
• Background: Masters in Management Science from Stanford University.
• Achievement: Spearheaded MobiKwik’s growth to become one of India’s largest mobile wallets.
• Impacts: MobiKwik serves millions, providing services like mobile recharges, bill payments, and more.

10. Richa Kar

Launched in 2011 as an online platform to offer women a private and comfortable shopping experience, Zivame means “radiant me” in Hebrew. With an astounding 5,000 patterns, 50 brands, and 100 sizes in their selection, Zivame became well-known among Indian ladies looking for underwear that suited their individual requirements.

As Zivame’s web platform gained traction, Kar made the decision to grow her company by opening physical locations. She established Zivame Studios in 2016 and provides clients with a smooth omni-channel experience. With this change, Zivame was able to connect with clients in India’s tier 2 and tier 3 cities.

• Founded Zivame in 2011, an online lingerie retailer that has transformed lingerie shopping in India.
• Innovation: Introduced the concept of fitting lingerie through an online platform.
• Recognition: Featured in Fortune India’s 40 Under 40 list.
• Impacts: Zivame has empowered women with choice, privacy, and comfort in lingerie shopping.

FAQs – Ten Successful Women Entrepreneurs in India

Name the 10 Most Successful Women Entrepreneurs in India.

Here are the 10 Most Successful Women Entrepreneurs in India:

• Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw
• Vandana Luthra
• Falguni Nayar
• Suchi Mukherjee
• Radhika Ghai
• Ritu Kumar
• Shahnaz Husain
• Aditi Gupta
• Upasana Taku
• Richa Kar

Who are Top 10 Female Entrepreneurs in the World?

Here are ten of the top female entrepreneurs globally:

1. Whitney Wolfe Herd – Founder and CEO of Bumble, a dating app that empowers women to make the first move.
2. Sara Blakely – Founder of Spanx, an American intimate apparel company with pants and leggings, founded in Atlanta, Georgia.
3. Anne Wojcicki – Co-founder and CEO of 23andMe, a personal genomics and biotechnology company.
4. Rihanna (Robyn Rihanna Fenty) – Founder of Fenty Beauty, a cosmetics brand that focuses on a wide range of traditionally hard-to-match skin tones.
5. Gwynne Shotwell – President and COO of SpaceX, an American aerospace manufacturer and space transport services company.
6. Tory Burch – Executive Chairman and Chief Creative Officer of Tory Burch LLC, an American fashion label.
7. Gina Rinehart – Executive Chairman of Hancock Prospecting, a privately-owned mineral exploration and extraction company in Australia.
8. Cher Wang – Co-founder and Chairwoman of HTC Corporation, a Taiwanese consumer electronics company.
9. Indra Nooyi – Former CEO of PepsiCo, one of the world’s leading food and beverage companies.
10. Zhang Xin – Co-founder and CEO of SOHO China, a Chinese property developer known for its innovative and architectural distinct properties.

How many Female Entrepreneurs are there in the World?

There are about 252 million female entrepreneurs in the world, who own and operate 153 established businesses.

Who is the First Woman Entrepreneur in India?

The first woman entrepreneur in India is widely considered to be Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw, who founded Biocon in 1978.

Who is the First Woman Entrepreneur in the World?

Madame C.J. Walker is often celebrated as one of the first female self-made millionaires in America for her successful line of hair care products for African American women, established in the early 20th century.