New Delhi: The Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSME) has highlighted the role of the Self-Reliant India (SRI) Fund in providing growth capital to women-led enterprises, with the fund leveraging nearly ₹48,000 crore in private investment and supporting 824 MSMEs so far.
The Ministry organised an awareness workshop on the SRI Fund on November 4 at Kartavya Bhawan 3, New Delhi, as part of its Yashashvini Campaign to promote women entrepreneurship. The event was chaired by MSME Secretary Bharat Khera and brought together more than 60 women entrepreneurs from across the country.
SRI Fund: ₹8,305 Crore in Commitments Against ₹10,000 Crore Corpus
Addressing the workshop, Bharat Khera said that commitments worth ₹8,305 crore had been made under the SRI Fund against its ₹10,000 crore corpus. The fund has also leveraged nearly ₹48,000 crore from private venture capital and private equity investors.
The fund operates through a Mother Fund and Daughter Funds. While the Mother Fund invests in Daughter Funds, the latter provide equity investments directly to MSMEs.
Key figures shared at the workshop include:
- 72 Daughter Funds have been empanelled under the SRI Fund.
- ₹21,330 crore has been invested in 824 MSMEs.
- Around 74 per cent of the supported enterprises are micro enterprises.
- 77 enterprises have moved into a higher MSME category.
- Six enterprises have been listed on stock exchanges.
- 32 exits have been completed with profits.
The SRI Fund was conceived with a ₹10,000 crore government commitment, with the expectation of attracting four times that amount from private investors.
37.6% of Udyam-Registered Enterprises Are Women-Owned
Khera also highlighted the growing participation of women in the MSME sector. Registrations on the Udyam and Udyam Assist portals crossed 10 crore on October 30, 2026, with women-owned enterprises accounting for 37.6 per cent of the total.
He called for increasing this share to 50 per cent and stressed that formalisation must now be accompanied by support to help enterprises expand.
He also underlined the importance of combining credit and equity support. According to him, outstanding MSME credit has increased from around ₹10 lakh crore in 2014 to more than ₹40 lakh crore, while non-performing assets in the sector have declined to approximately 3.5 per cent.
The Secretary also pointed to two additional funding measures:
- An additional ₹2,000 crore has been provided to the SRI Fund in the Union Budget 2026-27 for micro enterprises.
- A new ₹10,000 crore SME Growth Fund has been rolled out to invest directly in small and medium enterprises.
Women Entrepreneurs Flag Funding and Market Access Gaps
During discussions, industry representatives highlighted the challenges faced by women-led businesses, particularly early-stage enterprises seeking equity funding.
They called for smaller investment amounts, investment-readiness programmes in Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities, and assistance with accounting and business valuation.
Participants also stressed the need to connect access to capital with wider market opportunities through platforms such as the Government e-Marketplace (GeM), the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC) and export channels.
Daughter Funds to Guide MSMEs on Equity Investment
The workshop included sessions explaining the SRI Fund’s structure, investment process and support available through ecosystem partners.
Representatives of NSIC Venture Capital Fund Limited and SBI Ventures Limited explained how equity funding can help businesses expand without the collateral requirements associated with conventional loans. They also highlighted the role of investors in providing sector-specific mentorship and guidance.
Daughter Funds outlined key factors considered during investment decisions, including:
- A strong market and capable management team.
- A scalable business model and clear use of capital.
- Audited financial statements.
- Governance readiness and an appropriate legal structure, including registration as a private limited company.
Representatives of the Women Entrepreneurship Platform (WEP) under NITI Aayog and the Atal Incubation Centre ALEAP Women Entrepreneurs Hub also presented available support in incubation, mentorship, market access and regulatory compliance.
The Ministry said details of all 72 empanelled Daughter Funds, including their sector focus and contact information, are available on the NSIC Venture Capital Fund Limited website. It also reiterated its commitment to supporting women entrepreneurs through the Yashashvini Campaign.
