The Prosus Tech FoundHER Challenge has launched in India, offering $50,000 in equity-free funding to women-led startups in the technology sector. The initiative, launched in collaboration with Encubay and VAIA Climate, aims to bridge the funding gap for female entrepreneurs and provide them with access to global networks and mentorship opportunities. Women-led tech startups can apply for the challenge before April 4, 2025.
A total of 30 founders will be shortlisted based on innovation, scalability, and impact. The top six finalists will pitch their ideas in person on May 25, 2025, in Bangalore, with three winners receiving up to $50,000 in non-dilutive capital. Deeksha Ahuja, Founder of Encubay, said, “Encubay was built to bridge the equity gap for women entrepreneurs.
Bridging the gap for women-led startups
Partnering on initiatives like the Prosus Tech FoundHER Challenge aligns with our commitment to empowering female founders with access to capital, networks, and mentorship.”
Despite progress in recent years, women-led startups still receive less than 5% of global venture capital funding. The FoundHER Challenge seeks to change this by providing catalytic capital and opportunities to promising female-led startups in India.
Prosus, a leading tech investor, has already invested nearly $9 billion in India across various sectors. Prajna Khanna, Global Head of Sustainability at Prosus, stated, “Women in tech don’t need more barriers—they need opportunities. Prosus Tech FoundHER Challenge is about action, backing women-led startups to scale, innovate, and lead.”
The final pitches will be judged by an esteemed panel of investors and industry leaders, including Anjali Bansal (Avaana Capital), Archana Jahagirdar (Rukam Capital), Ronak Sandil (Amazon Ventures), Apurva Dixit (Blume Ventures), Martin Tschopp (Prosus Ventures), and Priyanka Chopra (Prosus Ventures).
Encubay, with its global network of over 10,000 stakeholders, will play a vital role in supporting the participating startups. Avneet Kohli, Founder of Encubay, said, “We are dedicated to creating an inclusive ecosystem where women thrive as leaders in tech.”
The Tech FoundHER Challenge represents a significant step forward in addressing gender disparity in tech funding and offers hope for women looking to make their mark in the industry.
