Due to the massive potential India has to offer, highprofile venture capitalists from all over the globe are rushing to cash in on this lucrative market. Last year, a total of US$5.3 billion was injected into the startup ecosystem owing to big names including Japan’s Softbank who invested US$627 million in ecommerce site Snapdeal, and US$210 million in taxi app Ola as part of a massive US$10 billion investment earmarked by the company for India’s booming ecommerce, telecom, and aviation industries. Sapphire Ventures, with more than US$1.4 billion under management as of July 2013 and 135 investments since its founding in 1996, is focused on helping today’s innovative expansion-stage technology companies in India and across the globe become global category-defining leaders by investing capital, resources and expertise that enables them to scale rapidly. Innovation will play a significant part in the way investments are handed out, encouraging startups to embrace the disruptive technology that has the potential to put them at the forefront of their respective industries.
[quote font=”tahoma” font_size=”14″ font_style=”italic” color=”#333333″ bgcolor=”#f4f4f4″] 
Marion Ryan
VP SME Asia Pacific and Japan,
SAP
More than 800 new startups are launched a year in India, driving new levels of innovation in the world’s second most populated country. [/quote] The New Digital Economy The meteoric rise of entrepreneurship in India is due in part to the government’s commitment to enhancing the nation’s IT infrastructure. Digital India, for example, is an initiative launched by the Indian government to help increase Internet connectivity in the country. The results are impressive: as of June 2014, there were an estimated 243 million users in the country , effectively putting India ahead of US as the world’s second largest internet base. As ideas flow freely with heightened connectivity, profound changes begin to take place in the economy: disruption, in the form of cutting-edge technology, fresh ideas and reimagined business models, are helping to redefine India’s new digital economy. To stay ahead of the curve, embracing technology to drive competitive advantage is a must for startups in all geographies.
The Rise of Female Entrepreneurs Interestingly, India’s vibrant startup scene is producing a rise in the number of female entrepreneurs. In 2014, the divide between male and female founders shrunk by 6 percent, according to the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor special report of Women’s Entrepreneurship. This is particularly true in India, which saw a 50 percent increase in women entrepreneurs compared to the previous year . There are efforts from the private and public sector to help provide opportunities for female entrepreneurs. In November 2015 Hyderabad hosted the inaugural Angel Summit in Hyderabad, which brought together more than 700 female participants to pitch ideas, share their stories of struggle and success, showcase their talents, and brainstorm new ideas.Based on the success of the conference, a second edition is now planned in February this year in New Delhi. If you’re a woman looking to enter India’s burgeoning startup scene, there is no better time than now. The new Digital Economy presents entrepreneurs with endless opportunities – whether it is an opportunity to start a business online, to develop a disruptive new business model, or an opportunity to better market your business by using digital marketing. The message is clear: as more and more Indians access the internet and as the digital economy gathers momentum, there’s never been a better time to enter the country’s thriving startup scene.
