Indian Women Break Barriers in Male-Dominated Sectors Through Digital Platforms

Women in India are increasingly entering sectors once dominated by men, from device repair to accounting. This shift is being driven by digital platforms like Tide, where female entrepreneurs now make up nearly a fifth of the user base. The trend is particularly strong in smaller towns, where women are formalising their businesses through online tools. Tide, a leading business management platform with nearly 800,000 SME members in the UK, has expanded into India, Germany, and France. In India, over 180,000 women entrepreneurs—18.7% of its local member base—now use the platform to run their businesses. Many of these women, aged between 27 and 31, are breaking traditional occupational barriers by entering fields like compliance services and technical repairs.

The platform’s data reveals a 111% surge in new women-led businesses between March and November 2025. These entrepreneurs are highly engaged with digital services, with the most popular tools being debit services, bill payments, and QR code-based transactions. The growth is most noticeable outside major cities, where women are leveraging digital solutions to formalise skill-based and service-led enterprises. Tide has also been recognised as a Great Place to Work for three years running. Looking ahead, the company aims to support 500,000 women entrepreneurs in India by 2027, helping them scale their businesses through digital adoption.

The rise of women-led businesses on Tide reflects a broader move towards digital adoption and formalisation. With nearly one in five members now female, the platform’s tools are enabling more women to enter male-dominated sectors. The trend signals a growing role for digital solutions in expanding economic opportunities for women across India.