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Abstract
Women entrepreneurs make a significant contribution to the Indian economy. There are nearly
three million micro, small, and medium enterprises with full or partial female ownership. For
many women entrepreneurs like, access to external funds and business networking remain major
challenges to growth. Their adverse circumstances are reflected in the Gender-GEDI Index for
2014, compiled by the Washington-based Global Entrepreneurship and Development Institute
(GEDI). India ranks in the bottom five of 30 countries surveyed for conditions that foster 'high
potential' women entrepreneurship (see box).1
'High potential' women entrepreneurs are those
who through job creation and widening of markets can boost economic growth. Thus, whether
one looks at economic development narrowly in terms of the increase in GDP or in the wider
context of economic, institutional and social change entrepreneurship plays a crucial role.