A Delhi entrepreneur’s short video has drawn fresh attention to gender imbalance in India’s startup scene after she noted that only a handful of women attended a recent event she visited. The clip, posted on Instagram, praised the energy and ideas on display but asked a simple question: “Where are you guys?”
Women entrepreneurs in India
The post, credited to the Instagram handle Divyanshi Dhouni, said she could count the number of women in the room on one hand. It struck a chord online, gathering roughly 16,000 views within days and prompting a stream of responses from fellow founders and observers.
“Walked into a startup event that was genuinely good. The energy was great, the ideas were fresh,” the entrepreneur said in the clip. “Everything was inspiring, except the lack of women. Women are building. Women are dreaming. They just need to be seen, invited, and encouraged.”
Times Now noted it could not independently verify all details of the post, but the reaction online highlights a broader concern about visibility and access for women entrepreneurs in India. Responses ranged from encouragement to accounts of bias and inappropriate advances during early-stage networking.
Commenters urged women to keep showing up even when they are in the minority, while others called for direct action from event organisers and investors. One user said that women entering the workforce today will pave the way for future generations of female founders. Another recounted attempts to pitch ideas that were met with personal rather than professional interest.
Experts say that while India’s startup ecosystem has expanded rapidly, persistent hurdles still affect women disproportionately. These include limited access to investor networks, fewer role models in senior positions, and cultural expectations that can restrict participation in late-night or predominantly male events. Practical barriers such as childcare responsibilities and safety concerns also play a part.
Organisers and industry leaders can take concrete steps to improve representation. Targeted outreach to women-led startups, reserved slots or panels featuring female founders, and active measures to make events safer and more welcoming are straightforward changes. Mentorship programmes, women-focused pitch competitions and flexible scheduling can also help draw more diverse participation.
Investors and accelerators have a role to play by seeking out women founders and ensuring decision-making panels include diverse perspectives. Greater visibility for successful women entrepreneurs will create a positive feedback loop, making it more likely that other women will feel invited and empowered to participate.
For many who reacted to the viral clip, the message was both a frustration and a prompt. The criticism was not aimed at individual events alone but at an ecosystem that sometimes fails to notice or nurture female talent. Organisers who want to attract a broader set of founders would do well to listen and act.
The Delhi entrepreneur’s post served as a reminder that representation matters not only for fairness but for the health of the startup community. As one commenter put it: women are building and dreaming. What they seek is not special treatment, but visible invitations and sustained encouragement to join the conversation and help shape India’s entrepreneurial future.
Key Takeaways:
- Video by a Delhi entrepreneur highlighted a striking lack of women at a recent startup event.
- The post, shared by Divyanshi Dhouni, drew 16,000 views and sparked wide online reaction.
- Commenters praised resilience and urged better inclusion, while others recounted barriers such as networking biases.
- Calls rose for organisers to actively invite and support women entrepreneurs in India.
