BUFT Journal of Business and Economics

Sumaya Khaleque & Reajmin Sultana

Faculty of Business Studies, Department of Business Administration, Bangladesh University of Professional
Email: reajmin.sultana@bup.edu.bd

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Purpose: Since independence, the economy of Bangladesh has greatly depended

on small and medium enterprises and start-ups over time. Even though there are

various supports and favourable environments available for entrepreneurs of

Bangladesh, women of Bangladesh face various barriers in availing these. For this,

we aim to investigate whether impact of gender matters to entrepreneurial success.

The concentration of our research is that how women entrepreneurs are facing the

challenges in Bangladesh. We have focused in particular on gender based barriers

relating to access to finance and managing family responsibilities.

Methodology: We have incorporated a mixed-method design within our study by

merging quantitative data from 64 women entrepreneurs with qualitative data. We

have collected our data through a structured questionnaire and analysed with

statistical software like correlation and regression analysis. The qualitative data

were analysed through thematic interpretation.

Findings: We have found from our research that, limited access to capital,

restricted networking opportunities, and difficulties in managing work-life

balance are the key barriers that works as an obstacle to the success of women-led

start-ups. These challenges hinder the growth and scalability of the women-led

ventures significantly.

Practical Implications: We argue that the evidence presented in our paper will be

used to advocate for targeted financial inclusion programmes, mentorship

programmes and flexible support services. If these things happen well, this could

pave the way for a more inclusive and supportive start-up scene for women in

Bangladesh.

Value/Originality: Our research will contribute to existing literature by using a

mixed-method design. For this, we have combined statistical analysis and

contextual insights. It will also offer a more comprehensive understanding of the

obstacles that women entrepreneurs of Bangladesh face.

Limitations: The limitation of our study is the absence of in-depth qualitative

data. We believe that, such data may have provided further contextual depth and

richer understanding of the experiences of participants.