SurveyMonkey Powered Online Survey

Biggest Challenges Faced by Women Entrepreneurs

Dear entrepreneur

The Network for Enabling Women in the Start-Up Ecosystem (NEWSE) has initiated this short survey to understand the 5 biggest challenges that women face when trying to start, build and grow a business.

We look forward to receiving your candid responses to the questions, based on your experiences.

Your inputs will help us identify the biggest barriers to women's entrepreneurship in India and help us build solutions to address these at the earliest.

This survey will take about 7-10 minutes of your time.

In return for your time, we are happy to offer you one free master class on Startup and Scale-up Success Essentials, if you respond to this survey.

Thanks in advance!

Question Title

* 1. At What Stage is Your Business?

Idea Stage – I have an idea and am thinking about starting a business

Seed Stage – I have done some initial work and have tested the product with a few people

Start-Up Stage – The business is legally incorporated, Products or services are in production, you have some customers

Growth Stage - Revenues and customers are increasing, may have a small profit

Established Stage - The business has now matured with a place in the market and loyal customers

Question Title

* 2. What were your key motivations to start your business?

To have a better work life balance

To have an additional revenue stream to supplement family income

I have joined a business that my family was running

To build a product / solution from an idea I had

I’ve always wanted to do this and have an opportunity to now

To address a social issue

To work for myself and have flexibility

To do something in addition to being a housewife

To use my skills and talent

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 3. How many people have you employed?

Zero – it’s just me

1-10

11-20

21-50

51-100

More than 100

Question Title

* 4. Which city are you located in?

Question Title

* 5. Which industry are you a part of?

Fashion, Garments and Accessories

Information & Technology

Business/ HR Consultancy

Education and Vocational skill building (school/day care/tuition centre /hobby classes)

Food and Nutrition (Restaurant, home cooked food, food processing)

Beauty, Grooming and Personal Care Services

Professional Services (legal/medical/Chartered Accountants etc.)

Energy/Water/Waste management

Creative Services (Writing/Painting/Interior Designing/Acting etc.)

Construction/Architecture/Real Estate

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 6. Out of the following list, please choose the Top 5 challenges that you faced when building and growing your business (please choose exactly 5 options)

Discouragement from family to start a business

Burden of family duties and childcare responsibilities

No Initial personal funding (self, family or friends) to start a business

No understanding on how to take the business idea forward

Unsure/unable to identify and approach a partner/co-founder

Difficulty in drafting the initial business plan

Lack of awareness of external funding resources

Discomfort in borrowing money from family and friends

Gender bias of officials processing loans

Unable to access investment from Venture Capital or Angel funding

Process of getting loan is a deterrent

Unable to provide collateral to use for getting loans

Inadequate information on compliance and regulations to run the business

Difficulty in accessing/complying with legal requirements

Lack of know how to leverage technology to grow the business (automation, App, etc)

Difficulty in connecting with technical experts

No idea how to leverage digital marketing (e.g. website, social media marketing)

Difficulty in finding mentors (established entrepreneurs or leaders)

Nobody to ideate and brainstorm with

Low understanding of competition in the field

Problems in setting up and using E-commerce to reach customers

Not enough exposure to trade shows, industry events, platforms for women entrepreneurs

Difficulty in integrating into Supply Chains of larger firms

Challenges with real estate when trying to build/rent a shop/factory/office

Finding and accessing target consumers

No knowledge of how to market myself and my product/service

Challenges in hiring, building and retaining a a team

Discomfort in dealing with male investors, clients and vendors

Discomfort in holding meetings in unfamiliar locations or at late nights

Lack of awareness of available forums to discuss the ideas and take them forward

Difficulty in becoming a member of relevant associations and support groups

Low confidence to share ideas in larger groups

Question Title

* 7. Please leave your email id, if you would like to be invited to a free masterclass on Startup and Scale-up Success Essentials

Question Title

* 8. To help us understand the key reasons why women close their ventures, we would like to interview a few selected women entrepreneurs who closed their business for any reason. If you or anyone you know has had to close their venture in the last 3 years and would like to share their experience, please leave your's or their email id. The information will be strictly confidential and will be used only for our study.