Proceedings of The 6th Global Conference on Women’s Studies
Year: 2024
DOI:
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Women in Business and the Startup Industry
Iryna Tytarchuk
ABSTRACT:
This research focuses on the role of women in the economy and their visibility in the startup and venture capital industries. The methodology includes an online survey of 200 female entrepreneurs and interviews with women who finance startups as business angels and through venture capital funds, as well as 13 interviews with female startup founders. The main objective is to identify barriers and opportunities for the development of the startup industry among women. Statistics underscore the disparities and challenges faced by women in accessing venture capital and support for their startups in both Ukraine and the United Kingdom. As of the latest data, women comprise approximately 17% of startup founders and receive only 10% of venture capital funding in Ukraine. Women-led startups received only 13% of venture capital investments in recent years, despite representing a significant portion of the entrepreneurial ecosystem in the United Kingdom. Thus, the situation with financing is quite similar. The research results provide a clear understanding of the challenges women face, stereotypes they must overcome, and gender-specific barriers in funding. The conclusions and recommendations based on the research results encompass strategies and necessary steps to overcome these issues. This includes training and skill enhancement initiatives among female entrepreneurs, emotional support measures, mentorship, and guidance, among others.
keywords: Women Entrepreneurship, Business, Startups, Venture Financing, Gender Equality, Gender Stereotypes