How do unexpected networks help female entrepreneurs in the Global South survive in adverse contexts? A case study of Bangladesh

This study investigates the role of various unexpected networks in supporting the survival of female-owned SMEs in the Global South. The research focuses upon Bangladesh, which is a context marked by institutional adversity and postcolonial legacies. Grounded in Social Network Theory and informed by a decolonial perspective, the research examines personal, professional, and virtual networks to identify how these relational resources are able to empower women entrepreneurs, in an area where formal systems tend not to be inclusive. Using a sample of 156 female entrepreneurs, hierarchical regression analysis reveals that personal and virtual networks significantly enhance business survival, while professional networks do not show a significant effect. The interaction of personal and virtual networks with adverse contexts further strengthens their impact, highlighting their role as adaptive infrastructures in constrained environments. In contrast, professional networks remain limited in their influence. These findings challenge Western-centric assumptions about entrepreneurial networking and underscore the importance of inclusive, context-sensitive strategies for supporting female entrepreneurship in the Global South.