Shepreneur Shakti: She Capital's Anisha Singh on Her Journey from Founder to Investor

Starting a business is a daunting challenge, but for women entrepreneurs, the road is often even more challenging. Yet, some fearless women defy the odds, paving the way for others to follow. This Women’s Day, TICE presents a special video interview series, Shepreneur Shakti, celebrating the resilience and success of women entrepreneurs. As part of this exclusive series, we bring forth inspiring conversations with leading female founders, highlighting their journeys, challenges, and the impact they are creating. In today’s episode, we feature Anisha Singh, a trailblazer in the entrepreneurial world, the founding partner of She Capital, and the founder of Mydala.

From Startup Founder to Investor: Anisha’s Inspiring Journey

Anisha Singh’s journey has been nothing short of remarkable. A three-time founder, she has seen both sides of the startup ecosystem—as a founder seeking investments and now as an investor supporting women-led businesses.

Reflecting on her journey, she says, “It has been long, but every step has been great. I was on the founder side for years, and now I’m on the investor side, helping startups scale.”

Her transition from entrepreneur to investor wasn’t just a career shift—it was a mission-driven choice. Having pitched to hundreds of venture capitalists as a startup founder, she realized the glaring gender disparity in the investment landscape.

“When I was a founder, I kept getting invited to speak about women in the ecosystem because I was the token female in the internet startup space in 2011-12. That’s when I realized the world was not equal for women,” she recalls.

Bridging the Funding Gap for Women Entrepreneurs

The statistics paint a stark picture—globally, only 2% of venture capital funding goes to female founders. Determined to change this, Anisha established She Capital in 2020, actively investing in women-led startups. Some of the brands she has backed include Baker’s Dozen, Elementary, BrainSight, and Yuva Kabaddi.

However, she soon realized that just funding a handful of startups wouldn’t create the large-scale impact she envisioned. To truly empower female entrepreneurs, she launched Together, a thriving community that brings together 150 women founders and top VC partners for an annual 36-hour networking event in Goa. “We have created a sisterhood like no other. Last year, we had an 80-founder waitlist, but unfortunately, we could only accommodate 150,” she shares.

Beyond events, Together has grown into one of the largest online communities for female founders, with over 3,500 members receiving daily updates on grants, loans, and funding opportunities via WhatsApp.

“It’s not just about She Capital. It’s about ensuring every woman entrepreneur has access to resources and support,” Anisha emphasizes.

The Defining Moment: Making a Difference Beyond Business

Despite her many achievements, Anisha remains focused on doing more.

“People say I’ve made an impact, but I feel like I need to keep doing more,” she humbly states. Yet, there was a defining moment that reaffirmed her mission—a heartfelt letter from a small-town father.

“He wrote to me in Hindi, saying that before seeing my interview, he had never thought his daughter could do something big. But after watching me, he wanted her to dream bigger,” she recalls.

It was a moment of realization—the impact extended beyond startups and investments. It was about changing mindsets and inspiring future generations of women to break free from societal limitations.

Choosing the Entrepreneurial Path Over a High-Paying Job

Like many others, Anisha initially sought financial stability in a high-paying job. Coming from a business family, she had witnessed the struggles of entrepreneurship firsthand.

“My father went through such a tough time in business that I vowed never to take that risk. I wanted a paycheck,” she admits.

However, her entrepreneurial instincts soon took over, leading her to establish Mydala, which grew into India’s largest local services marketing platform.

Her story is a testament to the power of passion and resilience. “Entrepreneurship isn’t easy, but if you love building and creating, the struggles are worth it,” she says.

A Call to Action: Women Supporting Women

Anisha Singh’s journey is not just about personal success—it’s about fostering an ecosystem where more women can succeed. She believes that every woman has a role to play in leveling the playing field.

“It’s our moral responsibility to get women on equal footing in the startup world. We all need to contribute to changing the status quo,” she urges.

As we celebrate Women’s Day, Anisha’s story serves as a powerful reminder of what is possible when women uplift and support each other. Stay tuned for more inspiring conversations in the Sheprenuer Shakti series, as we continue to spotlight women who are rewriting the rules of business and leadership.