Ambition, Quandary, Success; Navigating the Entrepreneurial Landscape as a Woman
Entrepreneurship poses significant challenges, and the hurdles become even more daunting for women. Despite the earnest efforts and support from the government and relevant agencies, only a mere 20% of businesses in the country are owned by women, indicating a substantial disparity in business ownership and leadership roles.
Female entrepreneurs frequently encounter greater obstacles compared to their male counterparts in achieving significant success. They encounter difficulties in moving beyond traditional, low-revenue sectors like beauty and apparel, limiting their growth opportunities.
The ongoing social dilemma of a “Patriarchal Node” underscores enduring imbalances in both professional and personal lives, with women still confined to supportive roles despite societal changes. The lack of familial and peer support, coupled with a scarcity of genuine mentorship, makes bootstrapping a formidable task.
Persistent biases in funding further impede progress, with VC firms and financial institutions often deeming women-led businesses less credit-worthy. Additionally, restricted access to male-dominated professional networks hampers business expansion and collaboration.
Tackling Challenges & Leading The Way
Meet Jilma Peruvangat, the founder of Kozhnosys, who is revolutionising cancer care in India.
During her employment as a biomedical engineer at the Fortis Hospital, Jilma noticed that most of the biomedical equipment in India is imported. They are costly, unaffordable, and not accessible to everyone.
This inspired her to develop CanScan, India’s first breath analyser for Breast Cancer screening. However, Jilma’s entrepreneurial journey was no cakewalk.
She says, “I observed biases from the get-go. Many people wondered if a female could understand technology and business.”
Even with constant pessimistic influence, Jilma held her ground. She developed her entrepreneurial skills and learned to manage the financial resources of her company. Failures became stepping stones, she adapted and persisted, and scarcity sparked creativity and turned limitations into opportunities.
Villgro is supporting Kozhnosys with structured mentorship and funding for product design and business development, and to build a strong patent portfolio to aid the enterprise in their pre-commercialization journey.
To her fellow entrepreneurs, Jilma says, “The innovation playground is vast. Claim your spot and always seek allies to collaborate.”
Swiftly ascending the leadership ladder or achieving entrepreneurial success remains a notable challenge. However, Jilma’s story exemplifies the transformative power of resilience. It offers hope for bridging gaps and addressing challenges head-on.
