The second edition of the Winpe Leadership Summit and Awards (WLSA) took place on March 22, 2024, hosted by Winpe, a not-for-profit platform focused on gender diversity in the private equity and venture capital (PE-VC) industry. Held in collaboration with PwC India, the summit explored the future of the PE-VC ecosystem and honored individuals and firms championing diversity, inclusion, and equity in the industry.
The summit addressed the challenges of the industry, including the underrepresentation of women in leadership roles, barriers to entry and progression for women, and the need for targeted networking and mentoring platforms. Founded by Nupur Garg four years ago, Winpe aims to bring together stakeholders in the PE-VC ecosystem to drive diversity and inclusion initiatives.
Nupur Garg, Founder of Winpe, expressed her excitement about WLSA 2024, stating, “The WLSA showcased the remarkable strides made by leaders in our industry. As we advocate for empowering women in investment, we take inspiration from these leaders and collaborate towards nurturing a more inclusive and diverse environment.”
The summit featured 43 speakers and approximately 300 attendees, including prominent figures such as Anand Unnikrishnan (NIIF), Pearl Agarwal (Eximius Ventures), Manish Kejriwal (Kedaara Capital), and Nandini Piramal (Piramal Pharma Ltd). Panel discussions covered topics like institutional investors’ priorities, investing in Bharat, and supporting female founders.
The Winpe Leadership Awards recognized outstanding contributions to the PE-VC industry in various categories:
- Firm of the Year – Private Equity: MO Alternate Investment Advisors Private Limited
- Firm of the Year – Venture Capital: Fireside Ventures
- Deal of the Year – Private Equity: TI Clean Mobility x Multiples Alternate Asset Management
- Deal of the Year – Venture Capital: Evolve x Indian Angel Network
- PE-Backed Company of the Year: PeopleStrong Technologies Pvt. Ltd. x Multiples Alternate Asset Management
- VC-Backed Company of the Year: NIRAMAI Health Analytix Private Limited x Ankur Capital
- Changemaker of the Year – Private Equity: Ashley Menezes, Partner and COO, ChrysCapital
- Changemaker of the Year – Venture Capital: Vineet Rai, Founder and Managing Partner, Aavishkaar Capital
- PE Leader of the Year: Shivani Bhasin Sachdeva, Founder and CEO, India Alternatives Investment Advisors
- VC Leader of the Year: Padmaja Ruparel, Co-founder, Indian Angel Network
- Here to Win: Alka Goel, Founding Partner, Alkemi Growth Capital
Through the Winpe Leadership Awards, Winpe and PwC India aim to promote an environment that not only recognizes diverse perspectives but also actively empowers and elevates women within the PE-VC landscape.
The Winpe Leadership Summit and Awards 2024 highlighted the industry’s commitment to fostering gender diversity and driving impactful change within the PE-VC ecosystem, setting a benchmark for inclusivity and innovation in the field.
