A new study Amazon conducted with the Alternativas Foundation, presented in Madrid with Ana Redondo, Minister for Equality, revealed that the majority of female digital entrepreneurs believe that being a woman doesn’t limit their opportunities when starting a business in the digital environment.
The research, entitled "Female Digital Entrepreneurship: Motivations, Challenges and Impact", offers a current snapshot of the female entrepreneurial ecosystem in Spain.
Flexibility and work-life balance
The report highlights that the main motivations for entrepreneurship in the digital sphere are work flexibility, the ability to balance personal and professional life, and creative freedom.
In addition to 60% of respondents believing that being a woman does not limit their ability to develop their digital business, 40% of participants started their businesses with less than €1,000 initial investment, highlighting the accessibility of digital entrepreneurship. "The online world allows you to do whatever you want to do, because the entry barriers are low," says Patricia Gutiérrez, a digital business mentor.
Key challenges
However, the research also reveals how the challenges of digital entrepreneurship vary according to age. While entrepreneurs over 50 seek primarily to improve their digital skills and customer loyalty strategies, those under 40 focus their efforts on securing financing and establishing solid professional networks, resulting in 71% of the surveyed entrepreneurs needing additional income to maintain their business.
At just 19 years old, Marga López began her entrepreneurial journey which would lead her to found aeioubaby.com, an educational toy company born from her direct experience with children. "Digital commerce represented a great opportunity for us", says Marga, who saw in e-commerce, through Amazon, an ideal channel to expand her business beyond Spain’s borders. Currently, aeioubaby.com sells its products in 27 countries, including the United States.
Looking to the future
The study points to the importance of strengthening the female entrepreneurial ecosystem through various initiatives and recommendations, including:
- The need to boost financial support and simplify administrative procedures for female entrepreneurs.
- Promoting training in both digital skills and occupational competencies, including stress management.
- Combating gender bias in access to financing.
- Promoting greater collaboration between the public and private sectors.
- Developing more inclusive digital technologies and channels.
“Digitisation offers great opportunities for female entrepreneurship, but it is crucial to address existing barriers and create an inclusive and accessible environment", says Beatriz Arias, the study's principal researcher.
Read the full report - "Female Digital Entrepreneurship: Motivations, Challenges and Impact" - here.
