Rishad PremjiPallavi ShrivastavaPallavi MohadikarMalini AdapureddyAnkur DahiyaMinu MargeretPrachi DharaniBlissclubDeconstructCornextSwiggyThe Economic TimesVarahaRozanaCureBayPalmonasKaro SambhavWipro LimitedPayGlocal TechnologiesPadcare LabsProgcap

ET Startup Awards 2026 unveils Woman Ahead and Social Enterprise nominees; jury led by Wipro's Rishad Premji to meet August 25 in Bengaluru

The Economic Times Startup Awards 2026 has announced nominees for the Woman Ahead and Social Enterprise categories, recognizing outstanding female entrepreneurs and startups that balance profit with social impact. A jury led by Wipro's Rishad Premji will convene on August 25 in Bengaluru to evaluate the nominees.

The Economic Times The Economic Times20 August 2026 · 07:31 UTC
CuriousCats Full Story

The Economic Times Startup Awards (ETSA) 2026 has unveiled nominees for its Woman Ahead and Social Enterprise categories, celebrating female entrepreneurs and startups that prioritize social impact alongside profitability. The awards, now in their 12th year, reflect the evolution of India's startup ecosystem since their inception in 2015.

The Woman Ahead nominees include:

- Pallavi Shrivastava (Progcap)

- Ankur Dahiya (Rozana)

- Minu Margeret (Blissclub)

- Pallavi Mohadikar (Palmonas)

- Malini Adapureddy (Deconstruct)

- Prachi Dharani (PayGlocal Technologies)

The Social Enterprise nominees are:

- Padcare Labs

- Cornext

- Karo Sambhav

- Varaha

- CureBay

A high-powered jury, led by Wipro's executive chairman Rishad Premji, will convene on August 25 in Bengaluru to evaluate the nominees. The Women Ahead award aims to recognize women who have launched successful ventures, while the Social Enterprise award honors startups that exemplify the 'double bottom line' approach, merging profits with public good. Past winners have transitioned to public markets, showcasing the growth of the startup landscape in India.

Key Insight
“The Social Enterprise category features Padcare Labs, Cornext, Karo Sambhav, Varaha, and CureBay. The jury, chaired by Wipro's executive chairman Rishad Premji, will convene in Bengaluru on August 25 to decide the winners.”
CuriousCats studied:
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The Economic TimesThe Economic Times
“The ETtech team has been preparing for the past few months to bring you the 12th edition of The Economic Times Startup Awards (ETSA). Today, we are unveiling the nominees for two more categories: Woman Ahead and Social Enterprise.”
The Economic Times →
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EARLIER IN THE STORY:
ET Startup Awards 2026 recognizes women entrepreneurs with nominees for Woman Ahead category, showcasing innovative startups led by female CEOs.
The Economic TimesThe Economic Times
ET Startup Awards 2026 recognizes women entrepreneurs with nominees for Woman Ahead category, showcasing innovative startups led by female CEOs.

The ET Startup Awards 2026 recognizes women entrepreneurs competing in the industry.

BlissclubCapital AccessCornext
2026-08-20
TL;DR by CuriousCats.ai
  • ET Startup Awards 2026 has announced nominees for the Woman Ahead category, recognizing women entrepreneurs leading innovative startups.
  • Nominees must be serving as CEOs of their startups, unless the company does not have a CEO-designated role.
  • Pallavi Shrivastava, CEO and cofounder of Progcap, is among the nominees, recognized for helping MSMEs and SMEs access capital.
  • Ankur Dahiya, CEO and cofounder of Rozana, is nominated for enabling rural consumers to order products via an app or call centre.
  • Minu Margeret, CEO and founder of BlissClub, is recognized for her product-first philosophy focusing on Indian body types.
  • Pallavi Mohadikar, CEO and cofounder of Palmonas, is nominated for her contributions to the demi-fine jewellery market in India.
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