Kolkata has rapid bustling streets and transformation has been happening in West Bengal, not in the political domain, but in the corporate sector. Women of West Bengal are creating a change in the corporate sector through strategic decision-making techniques and a broader vision of the business world. The new female entrepreneurs in India have been contributing vividly to enhancing the Indian economy.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!West Bengal has always remained a centre of art and culture, however, in the past few years several new Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) have increased. Why has that happened? The rise of female entrepreneurs in India, especially in the state of West Bengal who along with their zeal and vigour have aimed to make a massive transformation. The sector where they belong ranges from food to apparel and even to technology, putting their minds effectively.
According to a report by Times of India of 2024, West Bengal tops the list of female entrepreneurs in India with around 23.4% women-owned companies. This is actually a change which can make a drastic difference in the MSMEs of India. Mavenoak Express is a growing B2B2C Digital Marketplace where buyers and sellers connect with each other and there is no involvement of middlemen. Its goal is to also support the women entrepreneurs who have been using their innovative strategies to connect with the audience and have bigger dreams as well as aspirations.
How West Bengal Became the Leading State with Women-Led Entrepreneurs?
1. The Growth of Women Entrepreneurs in India
As per the Development Commissioner of the Government of India, there are 71847 registered female entrepreneurs in India. What is more impressive? Females have been using their innovative mindset to enhance the economic situation of India. The highlight is that these women also belong to humble backgrounds and span industries like textiles, food processing and many others.
Why West Bengal Only?
- Gender-Inclusivity: In West Bengal, women have always been very inclusive in the employment sector.
- Skill-Based Industries: West Bengal has an effective and flourishing cottage and textile industry, where women play a major part.
- Increase in the literary rates: Women have been educated more in West Bengal as compared to other states, due to gender inclusivity. They have had an interest in the business domain in recent years, because of their age-old subjugation over the years.
2. Digital Marketplace: Opening New Horizons
In Bengal, the women entrepreneurs in rural and semi-urban setups had limited access. Their outlets included local fairs, word-of-mouth, and a few physical stores. But certainly, the online marketplace dramatically changed this landscape.
Platforms such as Mavenoak Express have acted as catalysts. With an opportunity for a B2B online marketplace, sellers- many are women sellers- are linked to buyers in all parts of India and beyond. These digital marketplaces have eliminated middlemen, cut costs related to the sales process, and opened up new markets for sellers.
The Advantages of Online Marketplaces for Female Entrepreneurs
- Visibility: Not limited to local markets anymore.
- Affordability: Setup and marketing costs lowered.
- Ease of Use: Even first-time entrepreneurs find it user-friendly.
- Networking: Through potential collaboration with other businesses, suppliers and buyers.
3. Support to Government and Non-Governmental Organizations (NGO)
Presence at the state and central levels has promoted the furtherance of women-led MSMEs in Bengal. During the latter stages of such work, schemes like Mahila Udyam Nidhi, Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana, as well as the West Bengal MSME Facilitation Centre exist to train, finance, and set up support systems.
The NGOs and cooperatives have also come to the rescue to form self-help groups (SHGs) for these rural women. These groups mobilize resources, give training, and sometimes use digital platforms such as Mavenoak Express to access bigger markets.
4. Inspiring Stories of Bengal’s Female Entrepreneurs
There are many female entrepreneurs in West Bengal who have used specific business goals to improve the economy of the Indian market. Some of them are:
- Rupa Dash
Rupa Dash is an inspiring female entrepreneur in India who is the co-founder of the World Woman Foundation. She was born in Cuttack, Odisha and has been inspiring young females in the field of entrepreneurship. Not only that, she is the youngest woman who has won the National Award for the Best Telecom Brand Market in the year 2012. Through her critical thinking approach, she has successful media companies in Los Angeles, USA.
- Shraboni Bagchi
Shraboni Bagchi is another female entrepreneur from West Bengal who is the Co-Founder of Aloe-E-Cell. This is one of the famous e-waste recycling startups which has been creating a difference through sustainable business techniques. According to the original website of Aloe-E-Cell, more than 2.3 billion batteries have been discarded each year in India and per battery has been creating pollution in 167,000 litres of drinking water. This lady business owner from the land of West Bengal has shown to the world that through mindful work operations, the environment can be protected and also income can be generated.
- Satarupa Santra
Yellow Pumpkin is one of the emerging food startups in Kolkata and was incorporated in the year 2000. This company was started by Satarupa Santra who has knowledge about the online marketplace, business analytics, health dynamics and various other dimensions. This company was started by her so that home-cooked meals can be given to everyone which is good in quality and will positively impact the physical health of the customers of West Bengal.
5. Overcoming Issues
Even with success stories, the entrepreneur still has a few hurdles:
- Capital inadequacy: There have been many constraints that the females of West Bengal and other parts of India have been experiencing. One of them is capital constraints due to their socially backward economic backwards and lack of support in the family. Due to a lack of gender inclusivity in all the rural parts of India, females are not given financial support to run businesses.
- Societal norms and pressure from families: In traditional Indian households, though there is subsequent development, women are not allowed to run business houses. The foremost reason is that they are considered to be bonded within the four walls of their homes. Women are also not considered appropriate to do male-related work like running a business and others.
- Lack of digital knowledge: In the rural households of West Bengal, women have a lack of knowledge regarding digital technology. Though there is advancement, it is at a very low rate. It is due to a lack of education and also less income to buy digital gadgets.
Solutions are coming up, however. Consider digital literacy programs for women and microfinance through mentorship programs to meet these challenges together. From inventory to delivery, the process of doing business has been made easy for women to focus on what they do: design and lead operations with Mavenoak Express.
6. The Marketplace Revolution: B2B2C in Action
In the past, traditional marketplaces were often offline, messy, and hard for many small sellers, especially women—to access. But now, the emergence of B2B2C marketplaces is turning that around.
Take Mavenoak Express, for example. It links manufacturers, many of whom belong to the MSME ecosystem, directly with both businesses and consumers. This hybrid approach not only boosts scalability but also gives every seller a chance to shine.
Here’s how the B2B2C model empowers women:
- Business to Business (B2B): Women can provide products in bulk to retailers or wholesalers.
- Business to Consumer (B2C): They can also sell directly to end customers, which helps them increase their profit margins.
This model guarantees that no seller is too small to grow, and no buyer is out of reach.
7. Future Trends: What’s Next for Women in MSMEs?
As technology, policies, and awareness continue to evolve, we can expect the following trends to shape the future of women-led MSMEs in Bengal:
- AI and automation for small businesses: Artificial Intelligence (AI) is the future of small businesses as it helps them understand the target audience and therefore suitable promotions can be significantly done.
- Mobile-first commerce to connect with rural women: There should be mobile systems by which connection with rural women can be made and also they can turn out financially independent.
- Cross-border e-commerce opportunities: Aspiring women entrepreneurs in India should also communicate with women from other countries to understand new business dimensions and make improvements in business operations. These can be females from countries like Nepal, Myanmar and others whose economies can be improved if women apply unique business growth techniques.
- Skill development and entrepreneurship training: The number of females being educated has been improving day by day in India. However, there have been some parental controls and others which stop them from reaching the scaling heights. In the future, they should be given skill development training regarding entrepreneurship by which changes can be made by them in the different business domains.
Most importantly, platforms like Mavenoak Express will keep playing a crucial role in making marketplaces accessible and ensuring that women from all backgrounds can take part in India’s growth journey.
Conclusion: Join the Movement with Mavenoak Express
At the core of West Bengal’s journey to becoming India’s MSME powerhouse lies the incredible story of its women. These female entrepreneurs in India are not just changing the game; they’re proving to the world what can happen when ambition meets opportunity.
And believe me, this is only the beginning.
If you’re a woman with a dream—or you know someone who is—now is the perfect moment to take that leap. Whether you’re weaving in Shantiniketan, baking in Siliguri, or designing fashion in Kolkata, the world is eager to see what you can bring to the table.
Join Mavenoak Express, the premier B2B2C digital marketplace, where sellers and buyers come together to connect, collaborate, and thrive. List your business, explore new markets, and become part of a vibrant community that’s shaping the future—driven by women and fueled by purpose.
Because when women rise, entire economies take flight.
