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Women leaders prefer PE, VC funding despite knowledge gap: Barclays study

Indian HNW women are increasingly eyeing private equity and venture capital, but limited knowledge, lack of trusted advice and time constraints remain key barriers to alternative investing

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2 min read Last Updated : Aug 19 2026 | 10:59 PM IST

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High-net-worth women in India are targeting alternative assets like private equity (PE) and venture capital (VC), though they admit that they do not fully understand how these vehicles work, says a Barclays report titled “The Ownership Shift”.

According to the report, 40 per cent of surveyed women leaders plan to allocate new capital towards alternative investments over the next three to five years. This eclipsed traditional avenues, with public equities, fixed income, and real estate receiving 20 per cent each.

However, the survey revealed that only 14 per cent of respondents are highly familiar with alternative investments and actively invest in them. Up to 29 per cent reported a limited understanding of alternative assets, while another 29 per cent said they were highly familiar with the asset class but remained completely uninvested. The remaining 28 per cent were only somewhat invested.

This disparity stems from structural bottlenecks rather than risk aversion. When asked about their key priorities, 71 per cent of respondents cited a need to improve their investment knowledge and confidence. Meanwhile, 50 per cent highlighted balancing time and attention as their biggest challenge in wealth management, followed by 30 per cent of respondents finding lack of trusted advice to be a key challenge.

The shift comes as women across the country prepare to inherit at least ₹73 trillion in intergenerational wealth over the next decade, according to a Barclays’ July report. Currently, 77 per cent of surveyed women hold direct decision-making power, with 54 per cent as equal co-decision makers and 23 per cent holding sole executive authority. Furthermore, 76 per cent actively direct their investments, with 71 per cent reviewing portfolios monthly or quarterly.