Top 15 Cities for Female Entrepreneurs in South America in 2025
In recent years, female entrepreneurship has been on the rise throughout South America. By 2025, several cities are positioning themselves as top hubs for female entrepreneurs due to their supportive ecosystems, access to funding, and overall economic opportunities. Here’s an overview of the Top 15 Cities for Female Entrepreneurs in South America in 2025.
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1. São Paulo, Brazil
Entrepreneurial Activity: São Paulo is a thriving hub for female entrepreneurs, with 29% of businesses owned by women. The city hosts over 10 million female-led businesses, spanning various sectors.
Support Networks: Organizations like EY's "Winning Women" are effective in providing mentorship and networking opportunities specifically tailored for women.
Economic Opportunity: As Brazil's economic powerhouse, the city has a vibrant startup scene.
Cost of Living: São Paulo is among the most expensive cities in Latin America, ranking sixth globally, thus impacting operational costs for startups.
Challenges: A notable financing gap exists, with women-led SMEs facing difficulty in securing needed funds.
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2. Lima, Peru
Entrepreneurial Activity: Peru boasts a female entrepreneurship rate of 36%, the highest in Latin America, especially in textiles, handicrafts, and agriculture.
Economic Opportunity: An increasing number of women are choosing entrepreneurship as a viable choice rather than a necessity.
Support Networks: Government and non-profit organizations provide critical grants and training programs for aspiring women entrepreneurs.
Cost of Living: Lima offers relatively lower living costs compared to major cities, making it more accessible for new business owners.
Challenges: Challenges remain in diversifying business types and improving overall access to innovative resources.
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3. Bogotá, Colombia
Entrepreneurial Activity: Bogotá is witnessing a surge in female entrepreneurship, bolstered by government initiatives and support networks.
Support Networks: Numerous programs exist to enhance entrepreneurial skills amongst women, with a focus on resilience and innovation.
Economic Opportunity: Post-conflict, many women are pivoting towards entrepreneurship as a stable career path.
Cost of Living: While rising, Bogotá remains relatively affordable, facilitating cost-efficient startup operations.
4. Santiago, Chile
Entrepreneurial Activity: Santiago is characterized by high entrepreneurial engagement among women, with a significant proportion interested in launching businesses.
Economic Opportunity: Notably, Santiago has decreased its cost of living, thus improving conditions for startups.
Support Networks: Various entrepreneurial programs are ongoing that foster female-led ventures.
Challenges: Gender biases persist regarding industry selection for female entrepreneurs.
5. Montevideo, Uruguay
Entrepreneurial Activity: A notable level of entrepreneurial engagement exists, predominantly driven by necessity among women.
Cost of Living: Montevideo ranks as the most expensive city in South America, posing challenges for new businesses.
Challenges: Despite operational costs, a supportive startup ecosystem prevails, enabling business development.
6. Buenos Aires, Argentina
Entrepreneurial Activity: Buenos Aires has a vibrant entrepreneurial scene, with significant activity among women.
Cost of Living: Although previously costly, the city has fallen in price rankings, presenting opportunities for new ventures.
Economic Opportunity: A metropolitan area with a variety of public and private funding options supports new business endeavors.
7. Medellín, Colombia
Entrepreneurial Activity: An emerging area of growth for female-led startups, especially in the tech sector.
Economic Opportunity: The city is developing supportive initiatives and grants for women entrepreneurs.
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8. Córdoba, Argentina
Entrepreneurial Activity: Known for its strong entrepreneurial community and diversity of businesses.
Economic Opportunity: A rapidly growing region with good access to local markets.
9. São José dos Campos, Brazil
Entrepreneurial Activity: As an innovation hub, this city promotes women in tech and science-based industries.
Support Networks: Programs exist to boost female representation in tech initiatives, fostering a collaborative environment.
10. Porto Alegre, Brazil
Entrepreneurial Activity: Recognized for growing female-led initiatives in the creative and service sectors.
Support Networks: Strong local networks and community initiatives support female entrepreneurs.
11. Quito, Ecuador
Entrepreneurial Activity: A rising center for diverse business ventures led by women, particularly in artisan crafts and agriculture.
Support Networks: Government supports various programs for fostering female entrepreneurship.
12. La Paz, Bolivia
Entrepreneurial Activity: Increasingly recognized for its expanding entrepreneurial landscape and ventures by women.
Economic Opportunity: Encouraging economic conditions for small businesses and female-led initiatives.
13. Salvador, Brazil
Entrepreneurial Activity: An emerging player in feminine entrepreneurship with initiatives focused on beauty and hospitality sectors.
Support Networks: Local resources and mentoring programs have been established to support aspiring female leaders.
14. Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Entrepreneurial Activity: A growing scenario for women in the technology and innovation sectors among the Brazilian cities.
Economic Opportunity: City initiatives provide support to both emerging startups and established businesses.
15. Asunción, Paraguay
Entrepreneurial Activity: Emerging as a notable city for women to start their entrepreneurial journey, particularly in small and medium enterprises.
Support Networks: Local organizations are promoting women-led businesses through various initiatives and funding.
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FAQ
Q: Which city in South America has the highest rate of female business ownership?
A: Lima, Peru has a remarkably high rate of female business ownership at 29.5% in 2021, making it a leading city for female entrepreneurs. Learn more about Lima's entrepreneurial landscape.
Q: What support networks are available for female entrepreneurs in São Paulo, Brazil?
A: In São Paulo, programs like EY's "Winning Women" and "Mulheres Empreendedoras" offer funding, mentorship, and networking specifically for women. Discover support networks in São Paulo.
Q: How does Bogotá support female entrepreneurs?
A: Bogotá has various initiatives and support networks aimed at encouraging female entrepreneurship, helping women turn challenges into business opportunities. Learn more about Bogotá's initiatives.
Q: What economic opportunities exist for women entrepreneurs in Santiago, Chile?
A: Santiago offers significant economic opportunities with a high rate of entrepreneurial activity among women. The city's cost of living has decreased, making it an attractive option for startups. Explore opportunities in Santiago.
Q: How does the cost of living affect female entrepreneurs in Montevideo, Uruguay?
A: Montevideo is ranked as the most expensive city to live in South America, which poses challenges for female entrepreneurs, despite its strong startup environment. Learn more about Montevideo's economy.
Q: Why is gender equality important for female entrepreneurs in South America?
A: Gender equality impacts access to education, health care, and economic opportunities, which are crucial for the successful establishment and growth of women-led businesses. Read more about gender equality's influence.
Q: What is the primary challenge faced by women startups in Buenos Aires?
A: Buenos Aires encounters currency fluctuations and inflation, creating an unstable economic environment for women entrepreneurs despite a supportive business landscape. Explore Buenos Aires's economic challenges.
Q: How does access to funding affect female entrepreneurs in South America?
A: Access to funding remains a major obstacle, with many women entrepreneurs facing a significant financing gap for SMEs, limiting their growth potential. Read more about funding challenges.
Q: What initiatives support tech-driven startups for female entrepreneurs in Medellín, Colombia?
A: Medellín is emerging as a hub for tech-driven startups with a supportive ecosystem that encourages female participation in technology and entrepreneurship. Learn more about Medellín's tech ecosystem.
About the Author
Violetta Bonenkamp, also known as MeanCEO, is an experienced startup founder with an impressive educational background including an MBA and four other higher education degrees. She has over 20 years of work experience across multiple countries, including 5 years as a solopreneur and serial entrepreneur.
Violetta is a true multiple specialist who has built expertise in Linguistics, Education, Business Management, Blockchain, Entrepreneurship, Intellectual Property, Game Design, AI, SEO, Digital Marketing, cyber security and zero code automations. Her extensive educational journey includes a Master of Arts in Linguistics and Education, an Advanced Master in Linguistics from Belgium (2006-2007), an MBA from Blekinge Institute of Technology in Sweden (2006-2008), and an Erasmus Mundus joint program European Master of Higher Education from universities in Norway, Finland, and Portugal (2009).
She is the founder of Fe/male Switch, a startup game that encourages women to enter STEM fields, and also leads CADChain, and multiple other projects like the Directory of 1,000 Startup Cities with a proprietary MeanCEO Index that ranks cities for female entrepreneurs. Violetta created the "gamepreneurship" methodology, which forms the scientific basis of her startup game. She also builds a lot of SEO tools for startups. Her achievements include being named one of the top 100 women in Europe by EU Startups in 2022 and being nominated for Impact Person of the year at the Dutch Blockchain Week. She is an author with Sifted and a speaker at different Universities. Recently she published a book on Startup Idea Validation the right way: from zero to first customers and beyond and launched a Directory of 1,500+ websites for startups to list themselves in order to gain traction and build backlinks.
