Could Count Them On My Fingers: Delhi Entrepreneur Flags Absence Of Women At Startup Event

New Delhi: A post by a young Delhi entrepreneur has set off a new debate on gender representation in the country's startup world. Divyanshi Dhouni shared her reaction after attending a recent startup event. She said the gathering was full of energy and new ideas, but almost no women.

What did she say?

Divyanshi shared a post on Instagram and wrote that she could literally "count the number of women in the room on my fingers, maybe five at most." She called the event inspiring in many ways but was struck by how few women were present among founders, speakers, and attendees.

In her post, she didn't blame individuals but urged a broader look at why women seem missing from spaces where business ideas are shared, investments discussed and networks built. “Women are building. Women are dreaming,” she wrote. But she added that they often aren't seen, invited, or encouraged enough.

“Walked into a startup event that was genuinely good. The energy was great, the ideas were fresh, and it was good to learn about new ideas and things people are building and thinking big. But there was one thing I noticed, and I have been thinking about it since. There were very few women in the room. I could count them on my fingers, maybe five at most,” she wrote.

 

 

 

 

View this post on Instagram

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A post shared by Divyanshi Dhouni (@divyanshicreates)

What reaction has it drawn?

Social media users responded with a mix of agreement and reflection. Some echoed Divyanshi’s point about social conditioning and fewer visible women role models in early-stage tech spaces. Others said they’ve seen similar patterns at meetups and conferences across industries.

Many commenters called for more targeted efforts to bring women into these conversations, from safer networking environments to mentorship opportunities.