Every one in three women launched a business without initial funding.
Unleashing Women Entrepreneurship: Taking the Leap Without a Penny
June 20, 2025, 18:21
Advertising and Ad Placement
Experts gathered to share their insights during a public talk by Avito at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum (SPIEF). The discussion, moderated by Yevgeniya Chernitskaya, centered on the prospects of women's entrepreneurship in Russia.
In her speech, Tamara Kvirkeliya, Avito's head of new seller attraction, revealed that about 39% of women in Russia launch businesses without any initial capital. This intriguing fact emerged from a joint internal study with Opory Rossii among young women entrepreneurs.
Eager to understand the obstacles faced by these budding entrepreneurs, Tamara further revealed that 44% of them consider the financial risks associated with starting a business as the main hurdle, while 38% lack the necessary knowledge and experience. The study also indicated that 13% struggle due to high competition, and 3% face bureaucratic challenges.
"Avito stands as a platform with a female touch. A significant number of young women between the ages of 18 and 24 run their businesses here," said Tamara Kvirkeliya.
The landscape of women's entrepreneurship in Russia is constantly evolving. Maria Lapuk, co-founder of PR agency Vinci Agency, pointed out that while progress is visible, women still face a lingering stigma. Oksana Lubivaya, ambassador of women's entrepreneurship and founder of ProStore by Lubivaya, echoed this sentiment, emphasizing the need for tenacity and self-reliance to dismantle stereotypes.
Anna Trubitsyna, co-chair of the public organization AUREK on PVP matters, believes that women are adept at envisioning the bigger picture and anticipating multiple scenarios. Such qualities serve them well in both business and parenting. Lucy Pyaleva, a multifaceted personality known as a TV host, actress, and blogger, advised a balanced approach to work and family. Her advice was simple - prioritize accordingly without sacrificing either aspect of life.
While Russia dangles an engaging landscape for women entrepreneurs, factors like financial risks, lack of knowledge, and high competition continue to pose challenges. Yet, the presence of supportive initiatives such as contests, mentoring programs, and digital platforms designed to reduce barriers shows a culture that encourages women entrepreneurs even with minimal initial capital.
These initiatives focus on innovation, high technology, networking, and partnership-building, rather than direct financial support or capital provision. This, combined with a favorable economic context of low unemployment rates, labor shortages, and growing encouragement towards self-employment, makes Russia a promising hub for women-led enterprises.
While not stated explicitly, it is implicit that women in Russia are more likely to start businesses with minimal or no initial capital due to the supportive ecosystem created by community initiatives, digital networking tools, and startup contests. Such a supportive environment could be instrumental in fostering a new wave of women entrepreneurs, powering economic growth and social change in Russia.
"In the evolving landscape of women's entrepreneurship in Russia, personal-finance challenges and lack of business knowledge remain significant obstacles for many female entrepreneurs starting their ventures without initial capital, as revealed by the study by Avito and Opory Rossii."
"Amidst these challenges, the focus of supportive initiatives in Russia is on fostering innovation, high technology, networking, and partnership-building, rather than providing direct financial support or initial capital, indicating a promising hub for women-led enterprises in the field of business and personal-finance."
