HYDERABAD: The influx of women into start-up space has picked up pace over time, but
gender continues to play a discriminatory role when it comes to attracting investments. At least that’s the sentiment that many
women entrepreneurs from the city – especially those working in non-tech fields – share.
Admitting to the challenge of raising funds for their ventures, women entrepreneurs rue how the ‘missing’ male character in their otherwise promising business models, makes it difficult for them to convince investors to put the money in their enterprises.
Dharani Chinalla (name changed) moved to Hyderabad from the national capital two years ago to launch her art and culture firm, The Circuit. “The fact that I was a woman and from Delhi seemed to have unsettled the investor. He asked me if I was even serious about my project and what if I wanted to move back to where I came from, some day?” said Chinalla, in an email to STOI.
The first cultural fest curated by her firm, incidentally, was a massive hit in the town. But despite such prowess, there are several others like her battling gender crises within the start-up industry.
Ahmita Basu (named changed) is another such ‘victim’. In an email correspondence with STOI, the co-founder of an online platform that allows students to look for internships across the city, wrote: “There have been instances where I felt discriminated. We were once talking to an investor and he asked me what would happen when I decide to have a baby? Worse, he wanted to know if my husband would be ok with the deal. It is funny because it was my company and I was negotiating the deal and I totally didn’t understand how my husband was a part of it.”
But Basu is hopeful that the scenario may have changed because she pointed out that she had to face the situation three years ago.
According to industry sources, it is for reasons like this that a lot of women either stay away from the entrepreneurial world or bring on board male partners to deal with money matters. And their claim is not entirely baseless.
Ruchika C (name changed), a Hyderabad-based young businesswoman who runs an online medical service, confesses to have never faced any discrimination based on gender, but she is quick to add an important side note: “I have two other male co-founders. I am always accompanied by them for my meetings.”
While investors do not entirely dismiss this unfortunate practice, they insist that most put talent over gender. “There may be investors who might be prejudiced, but we personally trust women entrepreneurs because they are more driven and capable of multi-tasking. Besides, they are more efficient and committed,” said Puru Modani, an anchor member of Mumbai Angels, Hyderabad chapter.
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