Investing in Women: Experience and Performance of Women’s SMEs
Summary
This summary note showcases the significant strides made in supporting women-owned and -led small and medium enterprises (SMEs) across Southeast Asia. Through partnerships with impact investing partners, Investing in Women (IW) has catalysed substantial financial support for women’s SMEs, investing approximately AUD 15.4 million into 82 women’s SMEs and leveraging more than AUD 273 million in private capital.
This research, grounded in surveys and interviews with a subset of these entrepreneurs, covers the journey of these enterprises through challenges, including those posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and highlights the transformative impact of such investments on their business journeys and overall economic empowerment.
This research is developed by DevLean, commissioned by IW.
Highlights
- Entrepreneurs showcased resilience and innovation, using capital for scaling, new ventures, and adapting to the digital landscape, particularly during COVID-19, with “tech-enabled businesses” seizing opportunities to strengthen their market offering.
- The economic empowerment achieved extends beyond financial success, embodying personal growth, societal impact, and the challenge of balancing professional and personal life with some entrepreneurs leveraging family or paid help to manage their household.
- Despite facing a diverse range of challenges, including navigating through debt and near-bankruptcy, women entrepreneurs remain optimistic about the future, with plans to further consolidate, expand, or diversify their business activities.
- The report emphasises the pivotal role of targeted investments in nurturing women-led SMEs’ growth and resilience, spotlighting the importance of supportive networks, tailored financial tools and the broader implications for gender equality in business.
