Purpose <p>Women entrepreneurs play a crucial role in contributing to both economic growth and social development within the nation. This paper aims to explore complex web of factors influencing the success of women entrepreneurs in India.</p> Design/methodology/approach <p>This research employed a two-stage approach. First, an extensive review of existing literature was conducted to identify critical success factors for female entrepreneurship in India. Subsequently, these factors were structured into a hierarchical model using interpretive structural modelling technique.</p> Findings <p>The study reveals two distinct groups of factors: one characterized by high driving power and low dependence, necessitating immediate strategic attention, and another group marked by high dependence, representing consequential actions.</p> Practical implications <p>The outcomes of this research provide actionable insights for policymakers and government stakeholders, emphasizing the prioritization of key variables crucial for the advancement and empowerment of female entrepreneurship in India. The paper also proposes a roadmap for future actions aimed at fostering women’s participation in entrepreneurship.</p> Originality/value <p>This research stands out as one of the few comprehensive studies on female entrepreneurship in India, offering a nuanced understanding of the pivotal factors underpinning their entrepreneurial success and, in turn, encouraging the broader adoption of entrepreneurship as a viable career choice for women. Using this technique, no research article on success factor has been published as of yet.</p>