Ladies Who Lead Raises $1 Mn Pre-series A Round Led By Nithin Kamath’s Rainmatter

Ladies Who Lead (LWL), a pioneering members-only platform dedicated to advancing women in leadership, has raised USD 1 million in a pre-series A funding round led by Rainmatter, Nithin Kamath's impact-driven investment firm. The round also includes participation from the Family Office of Jayant Davar, who endorses a collective vision with LWL in actively shaping an inclusive space for women entrepreneurs and professionals for leadership advancements.

The funding will enable LWL to expand its unique ecosystem for women professionals and leaders across multiple sectors, offering them the resources, mentorship, and support necessary to overcome traditional barriers and excel in their careers.

Founded by former journalists Aabha Bakaya and Aditya Ghosh in 2021, LWL has been actively shaping an inclusive space for women entrepreneurs, professionals, and veterans across industries, creating professional growth opportunities for them through curated workshops, networking, mentorship programs, upskilling programs, and social events. By focusing on cross-industry exposure and collaborative experiences, LWL addresses key barriers to leadership advancement, such as pay disparity, networking limitations, inaccessibility to mentors, and the need for better work-life balance for women professionals.

This funding will enable LWL to deepen its reach within India’s professional landscape, strengthening support for established and emerging women leaders alike. With operations currently active in Delhi-NCR, Mumbai, and Bangalore, LWL’s expansion plans aim to extend its mission to a wider audience across the country and further diversify its membership.

Speaking on the funding, Ladies Who Lead’s Founder & CEO Aabha Bakaya said, “I believe that women should own their destiny—empowered to choose, shape, and grow in a way that is fulfilling for them. We have meticulously designed our offerings to enable women to forge strong connections and build essential relationships that contribute to their personal and professional growth. As our movement grows, more women in various fields will lead, and our collective influence will empower us to co-create the future. We see this funding from Rainmatter as a strong endorsement of our vision, and we are incredibly proud to have them as our partners on this journey.”

Despite recent advances in gender equality, only 1.6 per cent of Fortune India 500 companies have women at the helm, according to a 2024 study by Fortune India. The study also reveals that over 30-40 per cent of women employees exit the workforce before even reaching middle management, often around the time they start families. Maternity leave and the subsequent return to work present significant challenges, contributing to a trend where many women find it difficult to continue their careers post-childbirth.

Acknowledging the magnitude of these challenges, LWL is tackling them with a purpose-driven, outcome-oriented approach tailored to each member’s unique goals. Upon joining, members are paired with a dedicated community point of contact, who curates their LWL experience around their individual career goals and aspirations. This ensures that each member receives personalised engagement, whether they are looking for networking opportunities, business partnerships, or practical solutions to specific challenges.

“It’s time we realise the power and need of community support systems, especially for women approaching mid-to-senior management positions, where the dropout rate is maximum. To meet India’s ambitious GDP target of USD 30 trillion by 2047, the ecosystem needs to create more jobs, and that cannot be done without the participation of women in upper management,” Aabha concludes.