The paper studies the entrepreneurial landscape in Karnataka and Maharashtra in India, focusing on entrepreneurs' socio-demographics, motivations, challenges, and competences. A quantitative analysis of survey data of 52 entrepreneurs displays a trend among experienced and educated women to start new ventures, driven by passion, purpose, and autonomy. The major challenges faced were access to capital, regulatory bottlenecks, and financial planning skills. The study further shows what scope of skills comprising business management, communication, strategic thinking, with a perfect balance between customer focus and market research, is paramount. The findings, therefore, gainfully emphasize the role of mentorship, financial literacy, and support ecosystems in the development of sustainable and socially responsible businesses. The paper seeks to provide recommendations for the policymakers, support organizations, and academia in order to facilitate the creation of an improved entrepreneurial ecosystem and empower the women entrepreneurs of the region for inclusive economic growth and social well-being, linking Sustainable Development Goals such as SDG 5 (Gender Equality), SDG 8 (Decent Work and Economic Growth), and SDG 9 (Industry, Innovation, and Infrastructure).