96% of women entrepreneurs adopting digital business tools are from ‘Bharat’, says Tide data

Not Mumbai or Delhi; 82,797 women entrepreneurs on Tide are from Tier 2, 3, and 4 cities like Kota, Lucknow, Bareilly, Chhindwara, Latur, and Hathras – often termed the ‘Bharat’ of India.

• 282% surge in the number of women members on the platform in the last one year.
• Top business categories run by women – general stores, beauty salons, tailoring.
• Gen Z and Millennials make up 78% of members on the platform.

New Delhi, 04 March 2025: Tide in India, the leading business financial platform for SMEs, has recorded a 282% surge in women members over the past year adopting digital business tools. Tide has more than 86,226 women members on its platform (sharply up from 22,584 in Feb 2024), of which 96% are from Tier 2, 3, 4, and beyond towns (termed as ‘Bharat’). These cities and towns are emerging as centers of growth for SMEs in India.

Women across India—especially from Tier 2 and 3 cities—are launching businesses that both fuel their ambition and make a significant contribution to India’s GDP. About 22 million small businesses in India are owned by women, making up around 20% of such businesses in the country. Digital tools are helping more owners, especially in smaller towns, grow their ventures, according to data from over 600,000 small businesses on the Tide platform.

Tide data shows that 30% of women entrepreneurs are from the smaller towns in Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra, representing 16% and 14% respectively. This is followed by 11% from West Bengal, around 9% from Madhya Pradesh and Bihar each, and 5% from Odisha.

General stores, beauty salons, and tailoring businesses lead the way—together making up 31% of all digital enterprises on the platform.

Rise of Women Solopreneurs

The rise of women solopreneurs is remarkable. Women digital marketers, actors, teachers, bookstore owners, agricultural tool vendors, grocery store owners, and financial consultants make up over 61% of these ten key sectors.

Gurjodhpal Singh, CEO, Tide in India, says: “For decades, the entrepreneurship story in India was always about metros and family-run businesses. We are now witnessing a powerful shift in the entrepreneurial landscape of India, driven by ambition, digital access, and a growing support ecosystem. Many of these women are first-generation business owners who are breaking away from traditional legacies, proving that innovation and enterprise are no longer confined to big cities.”

Gurjodh adds: “These women are not just using digital tools – they are mastering them to build successful businesses, create jobs, and transform their communities. It’s inspiring to see that 96% of Tide’s women members are from smaller cities.”