This report investigates the state of women’s entrepreneurship in rural areas and for Indigenous women through in-depth interviews, and surveys of entrepreneurs and local governance leaders across the United States. Key findings include:

• Infrastructure challenges that hinder business growth – lack of reliable internet access and transportation, for example – persist.
• Thanks to the gradual disappearance of small bank branches, there is a severe lack of funding options for aspiring entrepreneurs who can’t self-finance.
• Rural and Tribal entrepreneurs need stronger networks, including online, to find guidance from peers and mentors.
• In rural and Tribal areas, state and local-level governments and institutions are well-positioned to capitalize on the trust they hold and to provide programming tailored to local conditions and needs.

This research builds upon the findings in our Women’s Entrepreneurship in Rural, Tribal, and Underserved Communities Literature Review.