"The Bootstrappers Way": Exploring the Use of Financial Bootstrapping By Women Entrepreneurs in Trinidad and Tobago

by Akosua Dardaine Edwards

Caribbean women’s economic status cannot be separated from prevailing social norms and values related to their responsibility for the home and family. Since the period of African slavery, Caribbean family forms have not conformed to the European nuclear family “ideal.” Studies in the 2000s showed that nearly half of households were headed by women. In many cases opportunities and incentives are unfavourable for women to begin businesses, even when they have the abilities and knowledge. One implication of this study is that the phenomenon of financial bootstrapping deserves more attention in future research on small business finance. This line of research is important to academics and practitioners alike, as it contributes to our understanding of the use of bootstrapping by women entrepreneurs. The findings from this study offer promise that bootstrapping can in fact be linked to the growth and development of financing alternatives and entrepreneurship for women in Trinidad and Tobago.

84 pages, Paperback

Published July 5, 2018

About the author

Akosua Dardaine Edwards is the founder of the Enabling Enterprise Project. The Enabling Enterprise Project is a progressive and interactive pilot project, which aims to partner Caribbean and international women’s business support agencies, policy makers and women entrepreneurs from all over the world for the enhancement, empowerment, exchange of ideas and experience and best practice of women’s enterprise and entrepreneurship worldwide.
Akosua has worked throughout many countries including Uganda, Tanzania, India , the United Kingdom, and her native Trinidad and Tobago, with women and youth entrepreneurs combining her expertise of entrepreneurship, empowerment and transformation. Akosua’s work has also been featured in thenextwomen magazine and Katalyst Business Magazine Jamaica. Follow Akosua on her journey at www.awecapt.blogspot.com