- Skill development a top priority for 70% of India’s women-led businesses, study finds
- Business owners from India’s tier II and III cities seek growth opportunities
- 52% are engaged in industries like retail, e-commerce, and edtech
Skill Development takes center stage as 70% of Women Business Owners from India Tier II and III cities seek growth opportunities. A new study 52% of women entrepreneurs across India’s non-metropolitan regions building ventures in digitally driven industries including retail and Edtech.
Capturing the entrepreneurial landscape beyond metros, the Bharat Women Aspiration Index (BWAI) 2025 report from UK-based Tide explores the opportunities, challenges, and ambitions of India’s women business owners in tier II and III cities.
Despite industry trends, just 12% of surveyed women entrepreneurs identified digital skills as a key focus area, exposing a gap between business needs and entrepreneur’s readiness; additionally, 54% feel disadvantaged in the eyes of financial institutions regarding creditworthiness. The report further highlights that 90% of businesses are driven by Gen Z and millennials founders, with 83% emerging from tier II and III cities, reflecting the accelerating entrepreneurial momentum beyond urban centres.
“The BWAI 2025 findings reflect a deep aspiration among women entrepreneurs in India’s smaller towns -- but show that big challenges remain. It’s heartening that many women are more confident in their ability to manage finances and market their businesses,” said Gurjodhpal Singh, CEO, of Tide India.
While entrepreneurship is gaining momentum, he pointed out that the structural obstacles, including constrained access to networks, digital platforms, and funding mechanisms, frequently mediated by men, remain prevalent.
