ijmanagement.co.ukIJMANAGEMENT.CO.UKIJMANAGEMENT.CO.UKApplied10.61336/ijm.2025.v6i1.004Women Entrepreneurs and Access to FinanceJulie NoneAndersonKristina NoneSmithRobin NoneDavisKurt NoneRuizAshley NoneRobbinsLecturer, Department of Marketing, Nairobi Metropolitan University, KenyaResearch Associate, Department of Banking and Insurance, Nairobi Metropolitan University, KenyaResearch Associate, Faculty of Business Studies, Holland International University, NetherlandsAssistant Professor, Department of Banking and Insurance, Danube International University, AustriaAssociate Professor, Department of Business Analytics, Balkan University of Technology, SerbiaThis article provides a comprehensive analysis of the persistent barriers and emerging solutions surrounding women entrepreneurs’ access to finance in 2025. Despite accounting for nearly 28% of enterprises globally, women-led businesses continue to face structural and systemic obstacles in formal lending, venture capital, and digital finance. Key impediments include limited credit histories and collateral, pervasive gender bias in financial institutions, financial literacy gaps, and a lack of awareness about government schemes. The paper highlights stark quantitative disparities: women entrepreneurs remain 15–20% less likely than men to access formal credit and account for a global credit gap of over $11.7 trillion. Regional case studies from India, Sub-Saharan Africa, and Southeast Asia illustrate both the severity of the challenge and the promise of market and policy innovations. Initiatives such as fintech-enabled microfinance, digital group lending, collateral-free loans, government platforms, and global efforts like We-Fi are beginning to bridge the financial inclusion gap, though significant unmet demand remains—especially among rural and first-time women entrepreneurs. The article concludes by recommending targeted financial literacy programs, expanded digital access, reform of property rights, gender-disaggregated data collection, and supportive policy innovation as critical strategies. Empowering women entrepreneurs with equitable access to finance is not only essential for gender equity but is poised to unlock $12 trillion in global economic growth by 2025 and beyond.