Igniting Women Entrepreneurship: Who and How?
The Economic Times - March 8, 2007

What stops them?
Just about everything - lack of know how, lack of space, lack of family support, lack of finances (interestingly that was not the first and last item on the list. It isn't just about money. It is about support in many more ways, because they have fewer role models to learn from)

Part 2 of the study
was to know more about what motivates and frustrates existing women entrepreneurs, and how they can be taken to the next level.

4 segments of women entrepreneurs exist:
Self Help Groups who are well served and mentored by microfinance institutions,
Grass root entrepreneurs who are driven by a need to augment the family's finances especially to secure their children's future - tailors, flower sellers, STD booth owners, paan shops. Turnover aspiration of 5 lakhs a year, they are very work focused, as they can see any increase in their earnings as directly impacting their childrens' lives. They are hungry for formal skills and training, can clearly articulate what they want to learn that will help them earn more. Domestic family support, financial support and better infrastructure and mechanization is what they ask for.
Mid rung entrepreneurs: they are driven by a need to build reputation, become known, and improve quality and satisfy creative instincts . Mostly graduate +, they typically have garments shops, poultry farms, export businesses etc., with turnover aspirations from Rs. 50 L to 1 crore. Fairly well supported by the family, their biggest need is for know how to take the 'quality of their business' to the next level. However they do not want to scale too much, because to them, there is an optimal level beyond which, they believe their children will get neglected.
Upper Crust: Drawn from the topmost social class, very well educated, with businesses like export houses, travel agencies, traders in pharmaceuticals, often adjuncts to their husband's businesses , they aspire to turnovers of more than Rs 5 crores.

Where are the bankers for the grass root entrepreneurs?
The mid rung can get bank loans if she makes an effort to, but prefers friends and family funding, while the upper crust leverages her family balance sheet to get loans for her business. However the most potent and hungry segment, the grass root entrepreneur is stuck in the middle with no access to finance - below the nose of the bank, and beyond the ken of micro finance.

A segmented strategy, customized for the mid rung and grass root entrepreneurs is being working on: Awareness to help take the leap with family blessing, Advocacy relating to school curricula and new banking offerings, and Assistance to hand hold them to the next level.