Women in tier-II & III Cities get Late start on Enterprises finds Report

By: WE Staff | Friday, 3 May 2024

A study of 300 Indian women entrepreneurs from 30 tier-II and tier-III cities found that 47 per cent were aged 30-44, while 30 per cent were 45-60, indicating a late start to enterprise compared to their male counterparts. A study by the Reserve Bank Innovation Hub and SALT-mysaltapp revealed that only 3 per cent of respondents used external funding for business start-ups. In comparison, 62 per cent were self-funded and 14.9% received family and friends support.

In India, women are only credited up to 27 per cent of their deposits whereas men are credited for up to 52 per cent. This showcases a 25 per cent gender disparity in credit availability for deposits. These female entrepreneurs need to deal with every challenge such as finding, funding, and handling responsibilities including child and family. Around 35 per cent of women temporarily stop their entrepreneurial journey after giving birth whereas 45 per cent of them move into or join their family companies once their child becomes self-sufficient.

Notably, 40.9 per cent of women in joint families balance family and career demands, with 32 per cent driven by personal interest and 39.53 per cent seeking economic independence. The study also finds that 14 per cent of respondents held graduate degrees, while 55 per cent had higher education, with 39 per cent holding postgraduate degrees and 16 per cent holding MBAs.