Financial Empowerment and Gender Equality: The Mumbai Experience of Women-led Start-ups

Abstract

Women entrepreneurs are pivotal to inclusive growth in India. This study investigates how start-up business grants contribute to financial empowerment and gender equality among women entrepreneurs in Mumbai. Using a descriptive research design and a sample of 75 respondents from diverse sectors, both primary and secondary data were analysed through frequency distributions and cross-tab evaluations. The study finds that start-up grants have significantly reduced financial entry barriers, enhanced women’s decision-making capacity, and stimulated employment generation. Results indicate that access to structured financial schemes—such as Stree Shakti Package, MUDRA Yojana, and Mahila Udyam Nidhi—correlates strongly with improved business sustainability and social status. The paper concludes that financial empowerment, when combined with skill development and supportive policy, serves as a transformative pathway toward gender equality and economic resilience.