Why are you still unmarried, they ask woman entrepreneurs

Besides the nitty-gritty of business deals, women entrepreneurs in the city are put to questions about their personal lives by curious investors.

For the many young and unmarried women entrepreneurs trying to make a splash in the city’s start-up scene, it is a daily encounter with investors and client curious about their personal lives.

Questions ranging from “When are you getting married?” to “Why are you still unmarried?” are as common as asking about project details and technical queries, say some of the ladies helming start-ups.

Though there has been a significant rise in the number of women entrepreneurs over the last few years, many say the outcome of client interactions about a bank loan might just depend on one’s marital status.

“Out of every 10 people I meet on business, three will ask me about my personal life,” says Rahila Nusrath, co-founder and business development head of the year-old stage venture Picture Language.

“The biggest problem is facing traditional mindsets: people who ask me if my in-laws will accept my business venture! I think setting up business is still perceived to be a man’s domain.”

For 23-year-old Renuka Rathode, the founder of Adnest and an organiser of start-up events, the most demoralising part is the need to take male colleagues along for business meetings even when not required. “Sometimes I feel that guys don’t take our suggestions seriously in decision-making situations. People consider girls useful only for networking and public relations.”

She adds, “There is gender inequality in the eco-system also because the stakeholders think women cannot take strong decisions. When we go to the meet clients for negotiation, they ask for male executives to close the deal.”

Twenty-four-year-old Damini Mahajan, chief executive officer (CEO) and co-founder of global education start-up WeMakeScholars.com, says she feels proud doing something in belying the taboo ‘women can’t do what a man can’.

In the same breath, she points out the stereotypes that affect every woman entrepreneur.

“Dealing with blue-collar people is tougher for a woman than a man. Even banks are hesitant to give us loans doubting our commitment towards business.”

Out of every 10 people I meet on business, three will ask me about my personal life. People ask me if my in-laws will accept my business venture! - Rahila Nusrath, Co-founder, Picture Language