Digital technologies and female led small and medium sized enterprises: a possible new growth area

The chapter examines how digital technologies affect the expansion of female-led small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). Several research have shown the difficulties faced by women entrepreneurs. Women-owned firms are smaller than male-owned firms in terms of sales, assets and number of employees, face difficult relationships with the credit institutions usually connected to the fact that women tend to be more risk-averse and less self-confident than men. Furthermore networks of female-owned businesses are weaker and more informal than men’s, and women facing time constraints imposed by family responsibilities. Digital technologies however have the potential to increase the outcomes of women’s business by providing access to market, even the international one, and facilitating interactions and cooperation with customers and partners. Through the case studies of some female companies placed both in traditional sectors and in those at higher technology, the research tries to understand under what condition the use of digital technology may represent a chance for developing a busines model more competitive, customized and sustainable. Limitations and implications for policy will be discussed.