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2025-04-25 10:15 Top 10

Top 10 Countries for Female Entrepreneurs in South America in 2025

Top 10 Countries for Female Entrepreneurs in South America in 2025

The entrepreneurial landscape in South America is evolving, and 2025 is set to be a pivotal year for female entrepreneurs across the continent. With growing support ecosystems, increased advocacy, and a surge in women-owned businesses, certain countries are leading the charge. Here’s a detailed look at the Top 10 Countries for Female Entrepreneurs in South America for 2025.
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1. Peru

Female Business Ownership Rate: Approximately 29.5% of businesses in Peru are owned by women, marking the highest rate in Latin America.
Active Sectors: Peruvian women thrive in textiles, handicrafts, and small-scale agriculture.
Supportive Ecosystem: Government and non-profit programs, such as financing initiatives and training sessions, are enhancing the business landscape for women.
Entrepreneurship by Choice: A significant shift sees women starting businesses by preference rather than necessity.
Learn more about female entrepreneurship in Peru

2. Brazil

Business Ownership Data: Women manage about 10.1 million businesses, constituting 23% of all enterprises in Brazil.
Diverse Sectors: Brazilian female entrepreneurs are making headway in fashion, social initiatives, and tech startups.
Strong Support Programs: Initiatives like EY's "Winning Women" and "Mulheres Empreendedoras" provide mentorship and funding.
Startup Ecosystem: Brazil boasts a vibrant ecosystem with accelerators and incubators focused on empowering women entrepreneurs.
Explore more on Brazil's women business owners
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3. Colombia

Resilience and Growth: Colombian women show remarkable innovation and ability to convert challenges into entrepreneurial opportunities.
Leadership Statistics: In 2024, 20.8% of board members in Colombia were women, the highest rate in Latin America.
Supportive Environment: Recent efforts have focused on creating a nurturing atmosphere for women-led businesses.
Contribution to Innovation: Colombian women are key players in driving economic growth through their enterprises.
Learn more about women's leadership in Colombia

4. Chile

Innovative Culture: Renowned for its startup culture and innovation, Chile provides a conducive environment for female entrepreneurs.
Support Initiatives: Programs like "Start-Up Chile" and "The S Factory" actively support women-led startups.
Corporate Support: Visa's "She's Next" initiative offers additional training and resources for female entrepreneurs.
Gender Representation: While improving, women still seek greater representation in top management roles.
Discover more about Chile's entrepreneurial landscape

5. Mexico

Entrepreneurial Growth: The country is seeing increased activity among female entrepreneurs, particularly in small-to-medium enterprises (SMEs).
Access to Resources: Various initiatives aim to improve women's financial access and resources necessary for business establishment.
Innovation Potential: Women-led businesses in Mexico show strong potential for innovation and progress.
Challenges Ahead: Despite growth, many women still face significant barriers in securing funding.
Learn more about Mexico's support for women entrepreneurs
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6. Argentina

Emerging Opportunities: Argentina offers a developing framework for female entrepreneurs, especially in technology and creative industries.
Educational Initiatives: Programs aimed at increasing women's digital literacy and business skills are becoming more widespread.
Networking Platforms: Numerous local initiatives and meetups provide female entrepreneurs with networking opportunities.
Growth Focus: Female-led startups are beginning to attract investor attention, indicating a shift in funding dynamics.

7. Ecuador

Microbusiness Growth: Ecuadorian women frequently engage in microenterprise activities, utilizing available resources effectively.
Local Empowerment Programs: Community-based initiatives help women gain access to capital and training.
Sector Diversity: Women entrepreneurs are increasingly entering diverse sectors, including food and hospitality.
Cultural Challenges: Despite progress, cultural biases towards female leadership remain challenges to overcome.

8. Paraguay

Entrepreneurial Landscape: Paraguay is gradually improving its support for female entrepreneurs, particularly in agriculture and textiles.
Government Initiatives: New government efforts focus on enhancing access to credit for women-led businesses.
Community Networks: Grassroots support networks are forming to provide mentorship and aid to aspiring female entrepreneurs.
Challenges: Gender inequality and limited access to education persist as obstacles.

9. Uruguay

Startup Encouragement: Uruguay is fostering an environment conducive to startups, with growing attention to women entrepreneurs.
Innovation Programs: The country’s support for innovation helps women enter various industries, including technology and services.
Networking Opportunities: Access to international networks is being enhanced, enabling female entrepreneurs to scale their initiatives.
Potential for Growth: Continued effort in overcoming cultural attitudes would lead to more significant advancements.

10. Bolivia

Business Participation: Women are increasingly participating in formal and informal economies in Bolivia.
Community Initiatives: Local organizations are working to improve women’s access to entrepreneurial resources.
Sectoral Focus: Female entrepreneurs often operate in sectors like handicrafts, food production, and local services.
Ongoing Challenges: Access to education and financing continues to be significant barriers for women in business.
This dynamic and transformative era holds great promise for female entrepreneurs in South America, providing an exciting outlook heading into 2025.
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FAQ

Q: Which country in South America has the highest rate of female business ownership?
A: Peru leads South America with a female business ownership rate of 29.5%, making it the highest in Latin America. Learn more about women's business ownership in Peru.
Q: What support initiatives exist for female entrepreneurs in Brazil?
A: In Brazil, initiatives like EY's "Winning Women" and "Mulheres Empreendedoras" offer funding, mentorship, and networking opportunities for women entrepreneurs. Discover support programs in Brazil.
Q: How has Colombia improved its support for female entrepreneurs?
A: Colombia has made strides in supporting female entrepreneurs, particularly after periods of conflict, with increased efforts to create a supportive business environment. Read more about Colombia's entrepreneurial landscape.
Q: What are the main sectors where women entrepreneurs thrive in Peru?
A: Women in Peru are particularly active in sectors like textiles, handicrafts, and small-scale agriculture. Learn more about women's business sectors in Peru.
Q: Which country has the second-highest rate of female business ownership in South America?
A: Brazil ranks second with 29% of businesses owned by women, supporting a significant number of female entrepreneurs. Explore Brazil's business ownership statistics.
Q: What notable initiatives support female entrepreneurs in Chile?
A: In Chile, initiatives like "Start-Up Chile" and "The S Factory" provide funding and support for women-led startups, helping to foster a robust entrepreneurial environment. Learn about support initiatives in Chile.
Q: How does women's access to funding impact female entrepreneurship in Mexico?
A: Women entrepreneurs in Mexico face significant challenges with access to funding, which can hinder their ability to establish and grow their businesses. Read more about funding challenges in Mexico.
Q: What percentage of Colombian business leaders are women?
A: In 2024, Colombia had the highest percentage of female business leaders in Latin America, with 20.8% of company board members being women. Explore statistics on female leadership in Colombia.
Q: What is the entrepreneurial climate for women in South America?
A: Although the entrepreneurial landscape is evolving, women across South America face significant challenges such as access to funding and gender bias, impacting their entrepreneurial journeys. Learn more about the challenges for female entrepreneurs in South America.
Q: What trend is observed regarding female entrepreneurship in Latin America?
A: A notable trend is that many women start businesses out of necessity, with a large percentage of female entrepreneurs motivated by a lack of employment opportunities. Read more about motivations for female entrepreneurship.

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.