Self-limiting beliefs in women entrepreneurs

Abstract

India is shaping up to become the next startup hub of the world. In the past few years, the country has generated more unicorns than it did in the entire decade. However, with this startup boom, also present is another instance of gender disparity. The proportionately low number of women in startups is a problem worth looking at. The focus of this report is on identifying factors that lead to the low uptake of entrepreneurship among women. The identification of factors and analysis is done through a mix of qualitative and quantitative methods. Primary qualitative data was obtained through interviews and FGDs with women entrepreneurs to understand the gender-specific barriers they have faced during their journey. Literature review in the form of reports from government and private organizations, case studies, and similar research done in this field was used as a secondary source of data. Finally, a survey to understand the perception of the general population regarding the problem statement and their views on the same was done to gather quantitative data which was then analyzed. The aim of this report is to identify factors that lead to the low participation of women in entrepreneurship and starting ventures. Along with the factors identified, the report also seeks to provide recommendations on how women can be encouraged and supported to take up entrepreneurship as a career choice.