In recent years, the number of MSMEs in Tasikmalaya City has increased consistently, reaching a peak in 2023 with 138,704 units. The culinary sector dominates with 49,632 units, creating a high intensity of competition. To survive and thrive, culinary MSME players must innovate amidst dynamic market changes, including shifting consumer preferences. Social capital is one of the strategic factors that can encourage innovation through information exchange and collaboration. This research specifically focuses on culinary MSMEs owned by women, with the aim of measuring the influence of social capital on innovation in this gender context. The data was analysed through simple linear regression using a quantitative method with a purposive sampling of 85 respondents. Results show that social capital significantly affects innovation around 70.6%. Social capital was proven to contribute through the optimization of social networks owned by individuals or business groups.