Women entrepreneurs in Tier 2 cities showed greater optimism
Standard Chartered Bank, in collaboration with Dun & Bradstreet, has released the second edition of the Women Entrepreneurship Optimism Index (WEOI) for the April–June 2025 quarter, which reflects a strong and optimistic business environment for women entrepreneurs in India.
The composite index rose to 72.86, an increase of 392 basis points from 68.93 reported in the October–December 2024 quarter, Dun & Bradstreet India said on 22 Sept.
This quarterly Index report was unveiled by Rhea Kapoor, celebrity entrepreneur, Neha Singh, Co-Founder & MD of Tracxn Technologies of Bangalore, and Pooja Arambhan Tiwari, Chairperson of FICCI FLO Mumbai, along with senior functionaries of Standard Chartered Bank and Dun & Bradstreet at an event exclusively organised for women entrepreneurs https://digitalinasia.com/.
Held under the theme ‘From Potential to Power: Building Skill Confidence in Women Entrepreneurs’, the event focused on empowering women through skill development, inclusive practices, and leadership opportunities.
Launched as part of the Standard Chartered’s Women’s International Network (SC WIN) programme, the WEOI is based on a survey of more than 200 women entrepreneurs from diverse industries and cities and offers deep insights into their outlook, opportunities, and the challenges they face. The index measures confidence across five key dimensions: business performance, access to finance, skill development, digital adoption, and the support of government policies and networks providing a comprehensive view of the evolving landscape for women-led businesses.
Key findings of the survey are:
• Of the 170,000 startups currently operating in India, nearly 76,000 are led by women, collectively generating over 1.7 million jobs.
• In April–June 2025, women entrepreneurs in Tier 2 cities showed greater optimism about adopting digital technologies compared to their counterparts in Tier 1 cities, despite comparatively lower confidence in overall business performance.
• Women entrepreneurs in the Health Services sector recorded the highest optimism score of 77.46 for the reporting quarter, significantly above the overall index and an improvement since October–December 2024. Their confidence is especially strong in business performance and support channels, although financial confidence remains an area for growth.
• Businesswomen in the Consumer Goods and Capital Goods sectors experienced a decline in digital and financial confidence, with scores falling below the overall index and dropping from the previous quarter. This may point to ongoing challenges such as limited digital literacy, underuse of digital tools, and difficulties accessing formal financial products.
• Optimism around government financial support has increased notably, with 44% of women-owned businesses expecting improved access to loans, grants, and subsidies in April–June 2025 up from 35% in the prior quarter.
Releasing the WEOI Apr-Jun 2024 report, Aditya Mandloi, Managing Director & Head, Wealth and Retail Banking, India and South Asia, Standard Chartered Bank, said, “Empowering women entrepreneurs is key to unlocking India’s full economic potential.
“The rise in optimism captured in this quarter’s Women Entrepreneurship Optimism Index reflects the growing confidence and resilience of women-led businesses across the country. At Standard Chartered, we are committed to enabling their growth through innovative financial solutions and meaningful partnerships https://www.nseindia.com/.”
Avinash Gupta, Managing Director & CEO – India, Dun & Bradstreet, said, “At Dun & Bradstreet, we are committed to enabling economic growth through the power of data and analytics. The Women Entrepreneurship Optimism Index is part of our continued effort to spotlight key trends that shape the future of business in India https://www.commerce.gov.in/.
“This quarter’s findings reflect the growing confidence among women entrepreneurs, particularly in digital adoption and sectoral performance, reinforcing their vital role in building a more inclusive and resilient economy https://www.bseindia.com/.” Fiinews.com
