Actuality¹⁴⁹

L’entrepreneuriat féminin : état des lieux

DURABLE ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Par

Mathilde Cornu

JCCM

As evidenced by the handful of women (or self-identified women) in the Forbes ranking, despite the growing number of women in business in recent years, the entrepreneurial world is still very male-dominated. In 2024, 19% of businesses in Canada were majority-owned by women, including large, small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). As members of the Jeune Chambre de commerce de Montréal (JCCM), it's essential that we understand these obstacles and work together to create a more inclusive environment.

According to the annual State of Women's Entrepreneurship (SOWE) report from the Knowledge Portal for Women in Entrepreneurship (PCFE), this gap applies not only to the share of businesses owned by women, but also to their size and the revenues they generate. This gap is not only a social issue, but also an economic one, as it affects growth and innovation.

How can we explain these differences?

Stereotypes and financing: the challenges of female entrepreneurship

Social norms play a major role in the challenges faced by women entrepreneurs. If gender stereotypes are detrimental to entrepreneurial aspirations from the outset, the recent publication of levels of entrepreneurial intention contradicts this. In fact, the levels are almost identical between men and women. On the other hand, the gap widens at every other stage of business creation. For example, at start-up, for every woman entrepreneur in Canada, there are around 1.6 men entrepreneurs, i.e. 39% versus 61% (measured by the TEA* rate of the GEM Canada Report, 2024).

While gender stereotypes do not a priori diminish women's ambition, they do influence their entrepreneurial journey on several levels. Access to financing is a striking example.

In 2023, companies with a majority female shareholding had a financing approval rate of 81.8%, compared with 90.6% for those with an equal shareholding. And the amounts received were well below those of their male counterparts (PCFE, 2025).

This lack of essential financial resources, combined with less developed professional networks, hinders the launch of women in entrepreneurship and reduces their chances of growing their businesses (CCMM, 2021).

This effect is multiplied tenfold when we consider young women entrepreneurs who “lack credibility in the eyes of financial backers” (Chantier de l'Économie Sociale, 2017). This is also what Déborah Cherenfant, ex-president of the JCCM, testifies to in an interview: “many gender-specific obstacles still stand in the way of their entrepreneurial journey”. She also points out that, although more women intend to become entrepreneurs, around 30% of them “stop when it comes to taking action” because of the many barriers they encounter (Zogning, F. , 2022).

Women in business - what development strategies?

As such, mentoring and networking are powerful tools for continuing to support women in business. Mentoring programs can strengthen leadership and create opportunities, while combating invisible barriers (FNQLEDC, 2025). We also need to continue developing a culture of female entrepreneurship by giving greater visibility to successful women in business. Sharing stories and experiences should inspire young women to take the plunge themselves.

Finally, institutional support is essential. Although the number of women entrepreneurs is on the rise, thanks in particular to policies such as the Canadian Strategy for Women Entrepreneurship (CSWE), there is still progress to be made in raising awareness of gender stereotypes, supporting women entrepreneurs and fostering their success. Quebec needs role models of women entrepreneurs to inspire future leaders.