Women’s Entrepreneurship in Ukraine: A New Driving Force in Business

Women’s entrepreneurship in Ukraine has become one of the notable drivers of small business growth in recent years. The full-scale war, relocation, changing markets and overall economic instability have not slowed this process. In many cases, they have actually encouraged women to start their own businesses, adopt new ways of working and explore sectors that were previously less typical for them.

After a sharp slowdown in entrepreneurial activity in 2022, the market began to recover gradually in 2023. Between 2020 and 2024, the number of registered sole proprietors in Ukraine increased from 1.9 million to 2.3 million. At the same time, the proportion of women also grew: the number of female entrepreneurs rose from 0.9 million to 1.1 million, while their share of all sole proprietors increased from 46.1% to 48.1%.

In 2025, this trend became even more pronounced: women registered 153,400 new sole proprietorships, accounting for 61% of all new registrations. This is one of the highest figures recorded in recent years.

First the pandemic, and then the full-scale war, significantly affected the structure of women's entrepreneurship. The greatest challenges were faced by sectors traditionally employing large numbers of women: services, trade, education and other service-related industries.

From my observations, these very sectors have proved to be the most flexible. Many female entrepreneurs quickly moved online, shifted towards delivery services, remote services, digital platforms, marketplaces and social media. For some women, this became both a way to preserve their businesses and an opportunity to enter new markets.

As a result, sectors related to e-commerce, online education, craft production, local services and social projects began developing more actively.

I would also point out that the war has further increased the demand for self-employment. For many women, running their own business has become a way to maintain an income, support their families and adapt to new circumstances. Some started businesses in new cities or abroad, while women-led initiatives often became a foundation for restoring household financial stability.

Educational programmes for internally displaced women who have lost their jobs, businesses or income because of the war are particularly illustrative. Participants in these initiatives receive training in establishing and scaling online businesses, as well as financial support upon completing the programmes.

Women's entrepreneurship in Ukraine is primarily concentrated in the service sector. The highest proportions of female sole proprietors are found in auditing and accounting, education, other services, tourism, healthcare, light industry, retail, pharmaceuticals, food services and culture.

Their presence is particularly noticeable in education, accounting services, consulting, the beauty industry, household services and retail. At the same time, women are gradually entering fields that were previously considered less typical for them, including IT, manufacturing, technical services and construction.

I can say that women-owned businesses have long since moved beyond "traditional" sectors. They are becoming more diverse, technologically advanced and resilient to change.

Looking beyond sole proprietors to companies in general, women's presence in business also remains significant. According to Opendatabot, in 2025 women head 455,300 companies, representing 32% of all registered businesses in Ukraine. Their share is even higher among newly established companies, at 34%. For example, all members of the Management Board of Unex Bank are women. In many sectors, women act not only as executives but also as founders.

Despite positive trends, women's entrepreneurship in Ukraine continues to face numerous systemic barriers. The most significant is access to financing. Many women have limited start-up capital, cannot always provide sufficient collateral for loans and often encounter caution from investors.

The second challenge is the complexity of business administration. For small entrepreneurs, any additional regulatory burden is significant, and this pressure only increases during wartime.

The third factor is stereotypes. Although they are gradually weakening, the perception that business is somehow "not for women" continues to influence potential female entrepreneurs themselves, as well as partners and financial institutions.

Wartime risks must also be considered separately: relocation, loss of markets, logistical disruptions, staff shortages and constant uncertainty. These challenges are particularly difficult for small businesses.

Despite all the challenges, women-owned businesses have demonstrated a remarkable ability to adapt. There are several reasons for this.

First, women often quickly adapt to new business models, including online sales, remote services, local services and small-scale production. Second, women's entrepreneurship is generally closely connected to the needs of customers and local communities, helping businesses respond more quickly to market changes. Third, the war and labour shortages have effectively created more opportunities for women's economic participation. This is also evident in the technology sector, where women are increasingly taking responsibility for launching, developing, financing and scaling businesses under new market conditions.

Government, international and civil society initiatives play an important role in developing women's entrepreneurship. These include grant programmes, educational projects, forums and professional communities that help women gain knowledge, establish connections and access resources.

Key areas of support include mentoring, financial literacy, digital skills, participation in business communities, access to grants and preferential lending. These tools enable women not only to start their own businesses but also to scale them.

I would also like to point out that women's entrepreneurship is increasingly becoming a topic at forums, award ceremonies, competitions and public discussions. This helps change public perceptions and makes women-owned businesses more visible.

For women's entrepreneurship to continue developing, I am convinced that systematic support is needed at several levels. First and foremost, broader access to financing through dedicated loan and grant programmes aimed at female entrepreneurs. Next, reducing regulatory pressure on small businesses and creating more flexible conditions for the development of small and medium-sized enterprises. Equally important are showcasing successful examples, promoting women's leadership and gradually overcoming stereotypes.

In my opinion, it is also worth continuing to invest in education, digitalisation and mutual support communities. For many women, these factors become decisive when choosing between abandoning a business idea and launching their own venture.

Women's entrepreneurship in Ukraine today is an important segment of the economy. It is growing, adapting to crises, entering new industries and assuming an increasingly significant share of economic responsibility.

Many challenges still lie ahead — from financing and security to unequal opportunities and stereotypes. However, the overall trend is clear: women in Ukrainian business are shaping a new model of economic resilience that will also be critically important for the country's post-war recovery.

Translation into English was created with the help of artificial intelligence.