07 Mar 2025
More must be done to champion women-led tech companies in India
Prosus Launches Tech FoundHER Challenge
Marking this year’s International Women’s Day, Prosus is launching the Tech FoundHER Challenge – a pilot program designed to support women-led tech startups in India.
Globally, less than 5% of venture capital currently flows to female-founded startups despite data from Springboard Enterprises showing that women-led companies deliver 35% higher ROI. While the world searches for growth opportunities, this challenge remains unaddressed. At Prosus, we recognise the need for strategic interventions.
That’s why we’re calling for women founders in India to submit their applications for the Tech FoundHER Challenge, a new accelerator program by Prosus that aims to champion and support female founders. With over $9 billion invested by Prosus in India’s digital economy, backing companies like PayU, Swiggy, Urban Company, Meesho, and Pharmeasy, we have a long-standing track record and confidence in India as a high-growth market and with vast potential.
Open for applications tomorrow, the program will award three exceptional female founders with equity-free grants of up to USD$50,000 to fuel their growth. In addition, these winning female founders will receive mentorship and opportunities to raise brand awareness for their companies.
With a judging panel of executives, investors, entrepreneurs, and business leaders, the judging process will be made up of two separate rounds of shortlisting, with each application carefully evaluated. Six shortlisted founders will then be invited to an in-person pitch with the judging panel on 25 May 2025. From this, the three winning founders will be chosen.
Applications will be assessed based on innovation, market potential, scalability, and impact.
To apply, you must meet the following considerations:
- Startups that are focused on tech or tech-enabled products
- Have at least one female founder in a leadership role
- Are at the pre-Series A to Series B growth stage
- Are revenue-generating and can show market validation
You can apply for the Prosus FoundHER Tech Challenge here. Applications close on 04 April 2025.
Prosus is proud to have come together with women founded companies, Encubay and Vaia Climate, as partners for this important initiative.
About Prosus
Prosus is a global consumer internet group and one of the largest technology investors in the world.
Operating and investing globally in markets with long-term growth potential, Prosus builds leading consumer internet companies that empower people and enrich communities.
The group is focused on building meaningful businesses in the online classifieds, food delivery, payments and fintech, and education technology sectors.
Through the Prosus Ventures team, the group invests in new technology growth opportunities within AI, social and ecommerce platforms, fintech, B2B software, logistics, health, blockchain, agriculture and more.
The team actively backs exceptional entrepreneurs who are using technology to improve people’s everyday lives.
Each month, more than 2 billion customers across the globe use the products and services of companies that Prosus has invested in, acquired or built. To find out more, please visit www.prosus.com.