[Women’s Day] There are a lot of spaces where ventures can be started; the person matters: Padmaja Ruparel of IAN

Padmaja Ruparel, Co-founder of IAN, sheds light on the role women entrepreneurs play in the Indian startup ecosystem, the challenges they face, and why the future appears bright.

On Women’s Day, it’s a given to take note of the contribution that women have made in several fields. The startup ecosystem is no different, and it’s a fact universally acknowledged that the percentage of women entrepreneurs is steadily growing.

Padmaja Ruparel, Co-founder of Indian Angel Network, has been actively involved in entrepreneurial ventures. President of IAN, one of the world’s largest groups of business angels, she’s also an investor and the group has invested in Monitra Healthcare, and Chakra Innovation.

IAN now has nearly 500 investors from over 10 countries, and its operations have come a long way since its inception in 2006. It has invested in 100-odd companies spread across a variety of sectors, including education, healthcare, QSR, ecommerce, gaming, semiconductors, robotics, manufacturing, etc.

It exited Wow! Momoand Faballey in 2019, but continues to invest in several startups.

In an interview with HerStory, Padmaja Ruparel speaks her mind on the Indian startup ecosystem, the role women entrepreneurs play, the challenges they face, and why the future appears bright.

Padmaja Ruparel (PR): If I step away from the startup ecosystem itself, there is a gap across the world between working men and women. There are many reasons. In India, there are even social reasons and in many pockets of societies, women do not work. It’s there whether we like it or not. That gap is narrowing, but it’s still there.