In Brazil, more than 10 million women lead small businessesaccording to the Entrepreneurial Woman Network. But the dream of undertaking bumps into the financial system. Even though they are responsible for supporting families, generating jobs and moving communities, these entrepreneurs are unable to have access to credit and financing.
“They are good payers and still face more negative than men. The financial system is not prepared to understand their business and, when we talk about black women, this difficulty more than doubles,” says Ana Fontes, founder and president of the Entrepreneur Woman Network.
Camila Brito Guimarães Xavier, 37, is a black and entrepreneurial mother in the state capital. In 2022, she founded the “Camila Brito Residential Cleaning and Organization ”after falling in love with the cleaning and organization sector.
In these three years, the company has served more than 300 customers. There are about 40 services per month. But to grow, he bumped into the absence of credit: “I’ve tried loan to expand and couldn’t. They never explained why,” he says.
Camila dreams of structuring the company to generate jobs and open opportunities for other mothers. “Motherhood and entrepreneurship are journeys of challenges and achievements. I want to expand and bring health, well-being and organization to residences, but also create vacancies for women who, like me, seek to balance care and career.”
Research from the entrepreneurial woman network shows that when they can thrive, almost 50% of women support their families with business income. In addition, they invest in children’s education, improve home conditions and drive the community in which they live.
Continues after advertising
“Fair and affordable credit not only strengthens entrepreneurs, but it also moves the economy and creates a circle of prosperity. When a woman grows, she takes others with her,” concludes Ana Fontes.
Ways to go
A conference, held in August, in Brasilia, brought together 105 participants from different regions and sectors, including leaders from the Entrepreneur Rede Woman Institute, Reafro Institute, Women of Brazil Group and Federal Government representatives.
The discussions should serve as a basis for the 5th National Conference on Policies for Women, which will be held from September 29 to October 1, 2025, with the objective of influencing public policies that directly impact the trajectory of thousands of Brazilian entrepreneurs.
According to the Ministry of Entrepreneurship the main points discussed at the meeting were:
Continues after advertising
- Access to credit and inclusive financing – Creation of specific lines for women, with reduced interest, criteria that consider social risk and alternative guarantees, as well as partnerships with fintechs and community banks.
- Entrepreneurial Training and Education – Implementation of a National Training Program for women entrepreneurs, with free courses, mentoring, itinerant workshops and specialized consultancies.
- Inclusion and Intersectionality – Ensure that development policies contemplate black, indigenous, disabled women, soil mothers and residents of peripheral and rural areas, with mandatory representation in councils and decision instances.
“Initiatives like the Federal Program Believes, recently launched to grant small business credit whose focus are women, show advances, but are still insufficient in the face of demand. We need to have mechanisms like this throughout the financial system,” says the president of the Entrepreneurial Rede Woman Institute.
Tatiane Brito, graduated in advertising and marketing and with over 10 years of experience in advertising agencies, decided to change his route after anxiety crises and the search for more balance. Five months pregnant, she opened in August this year an online store of ceramic pieces for home.
“Digital has always been in my career. I wanted something that had purpose, that it was mine and that you gave me freedom. Empowering is an eternal” wins and loses. “It requires courage and resilience. I believe this is an important point of entrepreneurship in Brazil: access to credit needs to be more accessible and fair, especially for more women to transform their ideas into viable businesses,” he says.
