Microfinance for Senior Entrepreneurship and Self-Employment

Despite a growing population of healthy older adults with the skills, time and financial means to stay economically active, relatively few are creating new businesses. In fact, according to The Missing Entrepreneurs 2023, the share of “missing” senior entrepreneurs (aged 50–64) in 2022 was 145% of the number of actual early-stage senior entrepreneurs in the EU, and 103% in the OECD. If older adults were as active in business creation as men aged 30–49, there would be 5.5 million more senior entrepreneurs in the EU and 21.2 million more in the OECD.

While many seniors are engaged in self-employment and the share increases with age — the transition into new business creation remains limited. This under-representation makes older adults a critical, yet often overlooked, demographic in entrepreneurship support.

Join us in changing that

Following two successful campaigns on female and young entrepreneurs, the Microfinance Centre is now turning the spotlight on senior entrepreneurship. Building on our research and insights from The Missing Entrepreneurs, we explore the challenges older adults face in starting businesses and how microfinance can play a transformative role.

This campaign highlights how microfinance institutions across Europe are already supporting senior entrepreneurs and what more can be done to unlock their potential. Through increased visibility, knowledge sharing and policy engagement, we aim to strengthen the role of microfinance in fostering inclusive, age-diverse entrepreneurship.

Together with our partners, we’re working to ensure that no entrepreneur is “missing”

Join the campaign and help raise awareness about the power of microfinance in supporting seniors who are ready to start—and grow—their own businesses.