The Invisible Journey of India’s Women Entrepreneurs: AGE India x Kotak Bizlabs

Before we step into it, I want to pause for a moment and honour something powerful — Happy Women’s Entrepreneurship Day!

A reminder that women don’t just run businesses —they build ecosystems, shift narratives, and spark change. It represents courage, resilience, creativity, and the unapologetic pursuit of one’s vision.

So today, whether you are a startup founder, a homepreneur, a corporate innovator, a solopreneur, or someone dreaming of starting —

Your ideas matter.

Your leadership matters.

And your journey is shaping a future that is more equal, more innovative, and more inclusive.

AGE India in a meaningful conversation with Kotak Bizlabs, 

Exploring the realities, opportunities, and barriers faced by women entrepreneurs across India. It was a reflection of the lived experience of millions of women who continue to navigate ambition, aspiration, and adversity. 

Insights from Sseema Giill, Founder – AGE India (Association for Gender Equality)

“If you want to do something different, you must be willing to face challenges.”

Entrepreneurship is never smooth especially when you are the first in your environment, family, or circle to step into it. But behind every entrepreneurial journey lies one powerful belief: “Honsla hai toh ho jayega.” This belief becomes your strength when things fall apart, your patience when results take time, and your resilience when doubt becomes louder than vision.

From discussions and lived experience, one lesson stands clear—entrepreneurship is not just about taking risks; it is about understanding, planning, and managing them. Courage may begin the journey, but clarity sustains it. 

Dreaming big matters, but strategic thinking, preparation, and structured execution are what transform ideas into impact and passion into progress.

“There was a time in my life when I was the only earning member of my family. In that phase, decisions couldn’t be impulsive or emotional — they had to be thoughtful, intentional, and future-focused. Starting something new is not just about passion—it’s about presenting a vision to the world knowing many will question it, some will dismiss it, and a few may never understand it. Yet, the true journey begins the day a woman chooses courage over comfort.” She believes. 

When asked what inspired the creation of AGE India (Association for Gender Equality)?

She shares, “When I founded AGE India, the purpose was never to create conflict or separation, but to build alignment, inclusion, and equitable access. Women already possess skill, talent, and capability. What they need is:

• opportunity,
• visibility,
• financial agency,
• mentorship, and
• supportive ecosystems.

Because empowerment is not just a concept—empowerment is when capability finally meets opportunity.”

One critical insight that continues to surface is the urban–rural divide. While urban India has access to platforms, mentors, and networks, rural India still waits for opportunity to arrive. If India truly wants inclusive and sustainable progress, then:

• Startups must move beyond metros,
• Corporates must expand beyond established markets, and
• Skill-building initiatives must reach villages.

Innovation cannot be defined or confined by pin codes. It must be accessible to every woman, wherever she stands.

Entrepreneurship is not only about creating businesses; it is about building pathways of possibility—so that the next woman does not have to fight for the right to be seen, heard, or believed in. And when opportunity becomes accessible, not selective India will have an ecosystem where equality is not demanded—it is naturally practiced.

A woman entrepreneur doesn’t just run a business — she runs possibility, identity, and hope for generations that will follow. With organisations like Kotak Bizlabs opening doors and AGE India building pathways for equal access, the momentum is here.

Now, it is the time together to rise and uplift others too.