Unlocking Growth: The Power of Women Entrepreneurs in Latin America and the Caribbean
March, International Women’s Month, highlights the importance of women’s economic participation - and the significant untapped opportunity they represent. Women-owned SMBs play a critical role in Latin America and the Caribbean, yet face persistent barriers such as limited access to capital and reduced market visibility. Unlocking their potential is both equitable and smart business.
At Visa, we believe that empowering women owned small and medium businesses with the right solutions, digital capabilities, data insights, and access to financing can unlock powerful economic growth.
Growing representation and a strong financial case
According to the Financial Alliance for Women, women-owned small and medium businesses make up 30% of the segment in the Americas, and their representation is growing at an annual rate of 4%. They are also nearing parity in the number of products they use and show greater loyalty by being more likely to recommend their financial services provider.¹
Additionally, women-owned SMBs in emerging markets consistently demonstrate lower credit risk. According to the International Finance Corporation, their non-performing loan ratios tend to be below those of male-owned firms.² This strong repayment behavior signals an underserved, profitable segment that financial institutions can activate through cash‑flow‑based lending, alternative scoring models, and tailored advisory support - opening the door to significant new loan volume across the region.
The digital transformation of women-led businesses
Digitization is reshaping entrepreneurship across the region. Digital and mobile banking, agent commerce solutions, and eCommerce platforms allow even small firms to scale and operate more efficiently. For women-led businesses, digital tools help offset mobility, safety, and time constraints. Just as importantly, digital transactions create data trails that make these businesses more visible to lenders, improving access to credit. As digital commerce accelerates, pairing digital capabilities with financing is essential for inclusive growth.
Hidden work, real constraints
Women continue to shoulder a disproportionate share of unpaid care and domestic work - labor that remains undervalued but essential to economic functioning. UNDP notes that this invisible work can represent several points of GDP in the region, directly limiting women’s entrepreneurial capacity.³ Digital solutions that automate administrative tasks or streamline supply chains can free up time and support business growth.
Education: a competitive advantage
Women in Latin America and the Caribbean meet or exceed men’s attainment in secondary and higher education⁴. This provides a strong foundation for innovation and digital adoption. Yet credit constraints, limited networks, and uneven access to digital tools continue to dilute these advantages. Connecting women’s educational strengths with digital capabilities - including invoicing, payment acceptance, and data-driven decision-making - can accelerate the growth of women-led SMEs.
When women’s enterprises grow, economies strengthen
At Visa, we are committed to working with financial institutions and ecosystem partners to expand digital acceptance, enable smarter lending, and equip women women-led SMBs with the solutions they need to grow. Supporting this segment is not only the right thing to do, it is a strategic path to stronger, and more dynamic economies across Latin America and the Caribbean.