Title: Entrepreneurial challenges of transgender entrepreneurs in India

Authors: Preethi Sarah; Karthigai Prakasam Chellaswamy

Addresses: Department of Commerce, Christ (Deemed to be University), Bangalore 560029, Karnataka, India ' Department of Commerce, Christ (Deemed to be University), Bangalore 560029, Karnataka, India

Abstract: Social exclusion has impeded transgender individuals to enter mainstream society and curbing them to start a business venture. Sporadic transgender individuals have paved their way to start the business venture. This study aims to explore the entrepreneurial challenges faced by transgender entrepreneurs. Twenty transgender entrepreneurs who have relinquished begging and commercial sex work were interviewed. The grounded theory analysis has revealed six significant categories: financial resources, competitors, human resources, marketing issues, natural calamities, and transphobia. The participants expressed that transphobia, and financial resources were highly challenging to start a business venture. These findings extend our understanding of their challenges beyond the current knowledge of cisgender entrepreneurs. Finally, the limitation of the study is enunciated.

Keywords: transgender; transgender entrepreneurs; challenges; India; entrepreneurship.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBG.2025.143914

International Journal of Business and Globalisation, 2025 Vol.39 No.2, pp.266 - 278

Received: 16 Apr 2021
Accepted: 01 Jun 2021
Published online: 14 Jan 2025 *

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