The Era of Women Entrepreneurs Is Here but Not Fully Realized Yet
Pakistan’s startup ecosystem is quietly transforming and women founders are at the heart of that change. From leading healthtech and edtech solutions to launching socially conscious brands and AI-powered businesses, female entrepreneurs are proving that innovation knows no gender.
Yet, despite these strides, women founders in Pakistan still account for less than 1% of venture-backed startups, according to Invest2Innovate’s Insights Report 2024. But that’s changing fast thanks to targeted funding, accelerators, and global programs finally recognizing the massive untapped potential of Pakistan’s women-led enterprises.
1. The Funding Gap Is Turning into a Funding Opportunity
| Program / Initiative | What It Offers | Eligibility / Focus |
| WeRise (USAID) / Accelerate Prosperity / Epic Angels | Directed capital toward women-led startups in Pakistan & wider region; mentorship, investor access. | Women-led startups, early to growth stage, especially impact or tech-enabled. |
| Women-Only Venture Platforms (e.g. Women In Tech by Katalyst Labs, WE RISE via Invest2Innovate, Sehat Kahani partnership models) | Platforms/accelerators that help shift perception, train, validate business models, connect to investors. | Female founders or co-founders; social impact or tech; early-stage businesses. |
| Government Inclusion Policies — National Startup Policy 2024, AI Policy 2025 | Inclusion clauses for gender parity in funding access, innovation program participation. | Startups and programmes under national policies, ensuring women get access. |
| Standard Chartered Futuremakers Women in Tech Accelerator (Pakistan, Cohort 7) | Grants, mentorship, capacity building, global network, scale-up grants (e.g. PKR 5M, 3.5M, 2M) for select businesses. | Woman-led, tech-enabled businesses, registered, operating for at least 6 months; scaling plans. |
| Aurora Tech Award by inDrive | Recognition, mentorship, prize money (USD $50,000 for first place, etc.), global exposure. | Women-led startups (founded or co-founded by a woman), prototype/MVP stage, pre-seed/seed. |
| CaterpillHERs Greater Good Accelerator | Blended-learning accelerator, coaching, social innovation focus, leadership training. | Women entrepreneurs / social innovators, especially those with a community/social impact focus. |
| Empowering Women-Led Businesses Initiative (USAID, UNDP, SRSP in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa) | Interest-free microfinance loans, business management training to women entrepreneurs. | Women-owned businesses in KP / merged areas; likely small and growing businesses. |
| SheVentures – NIC Faisalabad | 6-month programme: training, network, mentorship, scaling help; incubation opportunities. | Women founders with business ideas or early operations; female entrepreneurs across Punjab especially. |
| Reckitt Catalyst Program (Women-Led Health Startups) | Funding up to ~US$30,000, accelerator + mentorship + impact-strategy support and scaling. | Women-led startups focusing on health / hygiene / sanitation / clean water etc. |
| USAID / Pakistan efforts for women entrepreneurs | Training, access to capital, tech & digital tools; support ecosystem; many thousands of women trained or supported. | Broad focus across urban & rural; women entrepreneurs of various scales. |
| We-Fi / IFC / Sarmayacar Fund | Equity contributions, investment readiness, mentorship, support women-led businesses to scale. | Startups with one or more female founders or board members; often early-to-growth stage. |
| NPO Women Entrepreneurship Development System (WEDS) | Business development services (training, design, marketing), furnished offices, display/exhibition facilities for women entrepreneurs. | Women entrepreneurs, especially from rural or home-based businesses transitioning to more commercial/scale operations. |
| Karandaaz Pakistan / WeHUB / Female Agents Network | Financial inclusion, digital literacy, support to women for payments, remittances, financial service access, enabling e-commerce etc. | Women entrepreneurs, women in underserved or low income regions; women agents in financial services; digital inclusion. |
2. Women Are Solving “Everyday Pakistan” Problems Profitably
Unlike the hyper-growth models of the past decade, women founders are focusing on solving real, sustainable, daily-life problems often using tech to scale social impact.
- Health & Wellness: Sehat Kahani turned female doctors working from home into a telemedicine force, now serving 1.5M patients.
- Education & Skill Development: Dot & Line created micro-tutoring centers led by women, empowering thousands of mothers as micro-entrepreneurs.
- Mobility: BusCaro, founded by Maha Shahzad, is redefining shared commuting with safety-first tech, processing nearly a million monthly bookings.
- E-commerce & Retail: Homegrown brands like Generation, Khaadi Kares, and HerGround are setting examples of ethical, women-driven business models.
These ventures are proving that inclusive innovation not only drives impact, it drives profitability.
3. Ecosystem Support: Networks, Accelerators & Mentorship
The support infrastructure for women founders has expanded more in the last three years than the decade before.
- Accelerators & Incubators: NICs in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad now host women-centered cohorts and mentorship circles.
- University Programs: NUST, LUMS, and IBA’s entrepreneurial centers have integrated gender-inclusive modules.
- Mentorship Networks: Initiatives like WomenInTechPK, CodeGirls, and SheLovesTech Pakistan are providing peer support, technical training, and international exposure.
These networks bridge one of the biggest barriers women face: access to trusted mentors and investor circles.
4. Emerging Opportunity Zones: Where Women Can Win Next
The next five years will define the new frontier for women-led innovation in Pakistan.
Here’s where the greatest opportunities lie:
| Sector | Why It’s Ripe for Women Founders |
| Healthtech | Expanding telehealth, maternal care, and wellness products for women by women. |
| Climate & Sustainability | Global grants for women-led green and circular economy startups. |
| Edtech & Future of Work | Skill training for remote work and micro-entrepreneurship. |
| Creative Economy & Digital Services | Huge demand for female designers, marketers, content creators, and e-sellers. |
| Fintech & Financial Inclusion | Women-centered credit scoring, digital wallets, and SME lending tools. |
5. The Path Forward: Building More Than Businesses
Women-led startups are not only creating jobs; they’re reshaping what leadership looks like in Pakistan’s entrepreneurial landscape.
The key to accelerating this progress lies in three things:
- Funding Accessibility — easier credit lines, micro-VC funds, and zero-collateral models.
- Policy Support — consistent gender inclusion in tech and entrepreneurship policies.
- Community Building: Linking founders with local and diaspora investors through initiatives like League of Launchers and Venture Capital in Pakistan 2025
As Maha Shahzad, founder of Bus Caro, puts it, “Don’t chase the hype, solve the real, boring problems. That’s where the real innovation lies.”
Women founders in Pakistan are already doing that. The next chapter is about scale not just of business, but of belief.
FAQ
Healthtech, climate innovation, fintech, and digital services are emerging as key opportunity zones for women-led startups.
Yes. Programs like WeRise, Accelerate Prosperity, and Epic Angels provide targeted funding and mentorship to women-led businesses.
Through initiatives like WomenInTechPK, CodeGirls, SheLovesTech Pakistan, and university incubators at NUST, LUMS, and IBA.
Access to capital, limited networking opportunities, and societal barriers continue to hinder growth — though policies and programs are improving access.
