Anu Bhardwaj
Co-Founder & CEO, SHEQONOMI
Anu Bhardwaj is a serial entrepreneur, Fulbright Scholar, and digital inclusion pioneer with 25+ years focused on global women's economic empowerment. A Georgetown University alumna (C'98, MA'03) with an MBA from the Stockholm School of Economics and post-graduate research at IIT Bombay, she has spent her career at the intersection of venture capital, deep tech, and social impact — from private placement agent for $175B+ in global PE/VC to founding the world's first women-led podcast platform.
She founded SHEQONOMI — the world's first multi-platform, multi-device podcast app built by women for women — during COVID-19, with her daughter Arya as the first angel investor. Today SHEQONOMI spans 195 countries, 65+ languages, and reaches over 885 million women and girls on Android, iOS, KaiOS, and JioOS. Named #1 Global Innovation Champion by the Islamic Development Bank (selected from 5,000+ applicants), Anu has spoken at Cannes, Blockchain Futurist Conference, AnitaB.org's Hopper Down Under, Georgetown University, the Middle East Enterprise AI & Analytics Summit, and GSMA Mobile World Congress Doha.
SHEQONOMI was selected as one of 100 Global Media Startups at Web Summit Qatar 2025 and is now based at the Qatar Financial Centre. The platform has been built with nearly $1M US in non-dilutive capital from the Islamic Development Bank, the Algorand Foundation, and the SDG Impact Accelerator — and features 5,000+ women-led podcasts in 50+ languages addressing all 17 UN SDG goals.
"Be crystal clear on your career goals and find a wide array of mentors — both male and female — who will help you diversify your skills, your reach, and professional industries. Your network is your net worth."
— Anu Bhardwaj, Women Entrepreneurs Review
Academic Credentials
Georgetown University
BA / MA
Women's Forum Featured Speaker 2021
Stockholm School of Economics
MBA
Global Business & Entrepreneurship
Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay
Fulbright Scholar
Global Women's Entrepreneurship & Private Equity
National University of Singapore
Advanced Studies
Southeast Asia Digital Markets
Awards & Honors
IsDB Grand Prize — #1 Global Innovation Champion
2021Islamic Development Bank
Selected first from 5,000+ applicants globally for the $150,000 COVID Innovation Grand Prize.
Female Founders 100
2020Inc. Magazine
Named among the Top 100 Women Entrepreneurs of 2020 by Inc. Magazine.
Algorand Foundation Grant
2021Algorand Foundation
Grant recipient for SHEQONOMI's blockchain-powered token reward system for women learners.
SDG Impact Accelerator
2021United Nations / SDG Impact
Selected for the SDG Impact Accelerator program for SHEQONOMI's work on SDGs 1, 4, 5, 10, and 17.
U.S. Department of Commerce Trade Mission Leader
2010–2013U.S. Department of Commerce
Led PE/VC Certified Trade Missions to the Nordics and Middle East, representing over $175 billion USD in private-equity and venture-capital interests.
Vital Voices Fellow
2024Vital Voices Global Partnership
Recognized as a 2024 Vital Voices Fellow for 25+ years of work on global women's economic empowerment and digital inclusion. Based in Doha, Qatar.
Web Summit Qatar — Top 100 Global Media Startup
2025Media City Qatar / Qatar Financial Centre
SHEQONOMI selected as one of 100 Global Media Startups at Web Summit Qatar 2025, now based at the Qatar Financial Centre and the State of Qatar.
Career Timeline
SHEQONOMI — Qatar Financial Centre / Media City Qatar
One of 100 Global Media Startups selected by Media City Qatar at Web Summit Qatar 2025. Attending GSMA Mobile World Congress Doha to announce new partnership aligned with sustainability, digital inclusion, accessibility, and gender equality.
Vital Voices Global Partnership — Doha, Qatar
Recognized as a 2024 Vital Voices Fellow for 25+ years of work on global women's economic empowerment and digital inclusion.
SHEQONOMI — 195 Countries, 65+ Languages
Founded during COVID-19 with daughter Arya as first angel investor. Grand-prize winner of the Islamic Development Bank COVID Innovation Competition. Built with $1M+ non-dilutive capital. Launched on Apple App Store, Google Play, KaiStore (KaiOS), and JioStore. 5,000+ women-led podcasts across 175+ countries. Partnership with Reliance Jio (JioBooks, Jio STB, JioNext).
Women Investing in Women DIGITAL (WIIW Digital)
World's largest digital media platform focused on Women & Investing. 1,000,000+ followers on Facebook across 120 countries. Includes 'Women INVESTING in Women and Girls' Radio on Voice America Kids / Apple iTunes, The State of Women Radio Network (Star Worldwide Network), and the WIIW Global Summit & Women in Private Equity Roundtable Series held in NYC, Stockholm, Johannesburg, San Diego, Scottsdale, Muscat, Singapore, Phoenix, Vienna, and Ankara.
The State of Women Institute
Executive Producer of The State of Women documentary film. Amplifying the voices of marginalized women and girls globally through media, research, and advocacy.
Qrypto Queens & SHEQ Crypto Wallet
Founded Qrypto Queens — a global blockchain education and community initiative for women. Also founded SHEQ, the world's first super co-investing crypto wallet by women for women.
U.S. Department of Commerce — Private Equity / Venture Capital Certified Trade Missions
Spearheaded the 2010–2013 U.S. DoC PE/VC Certified Trade Missions to the Nordics and Middle East, representing over $175 billion USD in PE/VC interests. Collaborated with the International Trade Administration and U.S. Embassies in Sweden, Denmark, Norway, Finland, Saudi Arabia, UAE, and Oman. Client list: Irving Place Capital, Castle Harlan, W.L. Ross, Pegasus Advisors, NEA, HBG Holdings, Cubera Private Equity, Lion Capital, Novak Biddle, Alinda Capital, Top Tier Capital, Pantheon, Pathway Capital, TH Lee, Veronis Schuler Stevenson, and more.
Global Private Equity & Venture Capital
Served as a private placement agent for top-tier global private equity funds, building deep expertise in international business development, women in private equity, philanthropy, high-growth entrepreneurship, and angel capital.
What Anu Speaks About
Digital Assets & Tokenization
How blockchain and tokenized incentives are reshaping women's economic participation globally — from the SHEQ token to the bottom billion.
AI & Inclusive Deep Tech
Leveraging AI to deliver personalized content in 65+ languages across the bottom billion — and why inclusive AI is the only AI that works at scale.
Women's Digital Inclusion
Building the world's first women-led podcast ecosystem — from the kitchen table to 195 countries. Why the bottom billion can't wait.
Podcasting & Media Empowerment
How audio-first platforms unlock voice, visibility, and economic opportunity for underserved women. From KaiOS feature phones to Apple Watch.
Web3 & Decentralized Media
The intersection of blockchain, media ownership, and financial empowerment for the next billion — and why women must lead the Web3 transition.
Venture Capital & Women-Led Startups
25+ years in private equity, VC, and startups — what it takes to raise $1M+ in non-dilutive capital and why women founders must rewrite the rules.
On Stage Around the World
Photos & Videos from Past Events
A visual journey across continents — from blockchain summits to women-in-tech conferences, UN stages to Cannes.
Featured Videos
Book Anu to Speak
Anu Bhardwaj brings a rare combination of lived experience, global impact, and technical depth to every stage. From blockchain summits to women-in-tech conferences and Cannes, she inspires audiences to act on inclusion.