Access to venture capital: Does gender (still) really matter?

Entrepreneurship as an institution is characterized by big gender differences and a very low rate of women participation. The gender of the founder did significantly impact the amount of financing received from venture capitalists. The lower level of education can explain gender differences in entrepreneurial activity, especially in high growth knowledge-intensive sectors. Women are less likely to pursue STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) careers than men. Despite similar attributes, female entrepreneurs are held to a different standard than male entrepreneurs in obtaining financing from venture capitalists.