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Gender Bias in Entrepreneurship: What is the Role of the Founders’ Entrepreneurial Background?

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  • Luca Pistilli

    (University College Dublin, Lochlann Quinn School of Business)

  • Alessia Paccagnini

    (University College Dublin, Lochlann Quinn School of Business)

  • Stefano Breschi

    (Bocconi University)

  • Franco Malerba

    (Bocconi University)

Abstract

We examine the issue of entrepreneurial gender bias by focusing on the underlying mechanisms that impact the likelihood of receiving external venture-capital financing. We claim that gender bias negatively affects socially attributed dimensions (such as the stigma ascribed to entrepreneurs who have previously suffered a failure), while it has no effect on objective dimensions (such as the experience gained by entrepreneurs). Our results, based on 2088 US firms, show that female entrepreneurs are less likely to attract external funds if they have previously encountered failure. This negative effect becomes less impactful when novel or serial successful entrepreneurs are considered. Consequently, novel or serial successful entrepreneurs are expected to suffer less from gender bias if compared to peers who experienced a failure during their entrepreneurial career.

Suggested Citation

  • Luca Pistilli & Alessia Paccagnini & Stefano Breschi & Franco Malerba, 2023. "Gender Bias in Entrepreneurship: What is the Role of the Founders’ Entrepreneurial Background?," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 187(2), pages 325-346, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:187:y:2023:i:2:d:10.1007_s10551-022-05275-y
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-022-05275-y
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