Challenges and Prospects of Women Entrepreneurship in Digital Platforms: A Study in Jamalpur District of Bangladesh

Digital platforms-based business has been very trendy for quite a long time, especially since the COVID-19 pandemic. A digital platform is a system built on technology or setting that enables different individuals or organizations to connect, provide services, or conduct transactions over the internet other digital networks. Women in Bangladesh own the majority of entrepreneurship businesses. This study explores various issues, future thoughts, prospects, challenges of online-based entrepreneurship. There have various obstacles since starting their venture, but they are moving forward with a spirit in their minds and trying to overcome all these difficulties. This mixed-method study covers both quantitative and qualitative data to discover the entire scenarios of women entrepreneurs. In the quantitative method, the online (using Google form) and face-to-face survey is conducted with women entrepreneurs through a semi-structured questionnaire. Five (05) case studies have also been taken through the checklist to support the quantitative data. The total population is 600 and the sample size is 103. A convenience sampling procedure was used to conduct this study. The findings reveal that 71% women entrepreneurs face barriers while starting a business. They also encounter different kinds of problem like family problem, social problem, entrepreneurial problem, personal problem, digital device handling problem, etc. Though there are so many problems, still women want to continue their business because it provides them freedom. In addition, the govt. of Bangladesh and many NGOs are working to accelerate women entrepreneurship in digital platforms.