One in Four Startups at IIT Madras Has a Woman Co-Founder

The 25% That Changes the Deep-Tech Narrative

In deep-tech sectors where women's representation has traditionally been lower, IIT Madras is quietly rewriting the numbers . Of the 567 startups incubated under its ambitious "100 Startups a Year" mission, one in four has a woman co-founder . And the percentage has stayed above 25% for two straight years .

What the Numbers Say

Between FY24-25 and FY25-26, IIT Madras' incubation ecosystem has consistently maintained over 25% representation of women co-founders . This is not a one-off achievement but a sustained trend that signals a structural shift .

Tamaswati Ghosh, CEO of the IITM Incubation Cell (IITMIC), told The Hindu that the numbers are "significantly encouraging for the deep-tech sector, where women's representation has traditionally been lower" . For both Startup Shatam cohorts, the incubation cell has seen strong participation from women founders across sectors including healthtech, biotech, AI, sustainability, and agritech .

The Financial Backing

To support these early-stage ventures, IITMIC has released over ₹20 crore in grant funding to 100 early-stage startups over the last two financial years . Startups typically receive ₹15–20 lakh in early-stage grant support for product development and go-to-market activities .

Several startups incubated in FY24-25 (part of the first Startup Shatam milestone) have already gone on to raise external funding, including angel investment and venture capital . The portfolio has also received support through internal grants and CSR-backed programs run in collaboration with IITM's School of Innovation and Entrepreneurship .

Beyond the Numbers

The milestone is part of a larger push. In FY25-26 alone, IIT Madras incubated 112 startups under its Startup Shatam mission, building on the previous year's historic milestone . The total incubated startup portfolio has now crossed 567 ventures, collectively valued at over ₹74,100 crore based on latest funding rounds . The portfolio includes two unicorns and has seen multiple mergers and acquisitions. A landmark moment this year was Ather Energy's IPO—the first publicly listed company from IITMIC's portfolio .

Over 60% of the startups were founded by external entrepreneurs from across India, reflecting the institute's "IITM for All" vision .

The Bigger Picture

The 25% representation is not just a number—it is a signal that deep-tech entrepreneurship in India is becoming more inclusive. "We are also seeing increasing maturity in startups entering IITMIC—more revenue-generating companies, funded ventures and serial entrepreneurs—reflecting a shift towards a more commercially mature and outcome-driven incubation ecosystem," Ghosh said . As the ecosystem matures, one thing is clear: women are not just entering deep-tech—they are leading it.