Travel · Bengaluru, Karnataka
F5 Escapes
Experiential travel company running women-only group and solo tours in India.
Founded by Malini Gowrishankar
Snapshot
- Founded
- 2013
- Headquarters
- Bengaluru, Karnataka
- Industry
- Travel
- Business model
- Travel
- Funding stage
- Bootstrapped
- Markets
- India
- Last updated
- 26 June 2026
About F5 Escapes
F5 Escapes runs women-only group tours and customised itineraries across India, built to prove the country can be travelled safely by women. Malini Gowrishankar, an engineer who had spent seven years in IT, founded the Bengaluru company in 2013, in part as an answer to India's reputation after the Delhi gang rape made global headlines. The name refers to the keyboard's refresh key. Trips range from fixed-departure group escapes to solo travel planning, with vetted stays and local partners.
Founder
Malini Gowrishankar
Woman FounderFounder & CEO
Malini Gowrishankar is an electronics and communications engineer who spent seven years in IT and trained in IIM Bangalore's management programme for women entrepreneurs before starting F5 Escapes in 2013.
Industry classification
Travel Women's Travel
Ideal customers
Website, social
Related women-led startups
More in Travel.
More women-led startups in Bengaluru
Other Bootstrapped women-led companies
Featured in collections
Frequently asked questions
- What does F5 Escapes do?
- F5 Escapes runs women-only group tours and customised itineraries across India, built to prove the country can be travelled safely by women. Malini Gowrishankar, an engineer who had spent seven years in IT, founded the Bengaluru company in 2013, in part as an answer to India's reputation after the Delhi gang rape made global headlines. The name refers to the keyboard's refresh key. Trips range from fixed-departure group escapes to solo travel planning, with vetted stays and local partners.
- Who founded F5 Escapes?
- F5 Escapes was founded by Malini Gowrishankar.
- Where is F5 Escapes headquartered?
- F5 Escapes is headquartered in Bengaluru, Karnataka, India.
- Is F5 Escapes funded?
- F5 Escapes is bootstrapped — self-funded rather than venture-backed.
- When was F5 Escapes founded?
- F5 Escapes was founded in 2013.