The Grassroot Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) study commissioned by TiE and conducted by the India Consulting Group
identified the needs of women entrepreneurs across three segments i.e. Untapped/Aspiring, Grassroots (SEC B,C,D) &
Mid-Rung (SEC A) in six cities across the country – Ahmedabad, Mumbai,Coimbatore, Chandigarh, Hyderabad and Indore.

As per the findings of the study:

•    90% of women at the grass root level need help in Training & Education to improve their business skills
•    78% of them were keen to re-start their business but needed encouragement and support from family and other
like-minded women.

The study in SECs B, C and D towns consisted of a random sampling of 1202 households and revealed that:

•    Most women typically had a school education up to the 10th standard, but less than 20% had been to college
•    31% of women had tried to set up an enterprise, but had to give up the idea due to lack of support – financial or
domestic
•    A large number of these women were still interested in setting up their own venture but needed financial and
familial support, training and guidance and a space to set up operations
•    The desire to start up their own enterprise was driven largely by the need to support their family financially or
secure the future of their children
•    Most entrepreneurial aspirations were in the field of garments and included activities such as tailoring,
embroidery, supplying against orders from ready-made garment stores
•    Starting cooking or beauty classes did not find many takers

The study in SEC A cities had a different story to tell on women entrepreneurship: Most women entrepreneurs had graduate
or post graduate degrees

•    They were women who would typically drive their own cars, ensure that their children went to the best schools,
travel abroad, eat out, have a good life
•    The annual turnover of their enterprises ranged between Rs. 0.5 cr to Rs 5 cr and employed 10-15 people
•    The desire to do something more coupled with solid familial support and right social circle helped them set up
their business
•    Most rated their business success as ‘excellent’ to ‘very good’ and 60% felt that the going had been largely smooth