Crowdfunding in Italy - an exploration of chances and challenges for women entrepreneurs
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In: International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business, Vol. 46, No. 4, 08.2022, p. 483-504.
Research output: Journal contributions › Journal articles › Research › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - Crowdfunding in Italy - an exploration of chances and challenges for women entrepreneurs
AU - Pakura, Stefanie
AU - Raiti, Federica Maria
AU - Meyer, Verena
N1 - Publisher Copyright: Copyright © 2022 Inderscience Enterprises Ltd.
PY - 2022/8
Y1 - 2022/8
N2 - Crowdfunding is supposed to 'democratise' the entrepreneurship funding process, as it provides access for women entrepreneurs and investors to participate. In Italy, the barriers for the participation of women in entrepreneurship, especially with regard to funding, are particularly high. In this challenging context, crowdfunding is a promising alternative, which we explore with a context-specific study from a cultural gendering perspective. Findings reveal that the interviewed crowdfunding experts and women entrepreneurs believe that, in crowdfunding, only the idea and personal commitment count, while gender does not. Interestingly, results illustrate several barriers for women entrepreneurs in practice. Overall, crowdfunding structures in Italy currently reveal gender-based barriers, but have the potential to create a more 'open space' of entrepreneurship in the future. While crowdfunding might not be the allegedly gender-neutral environment that it is often illustrated as, it might open up the path for more women-led businesses to succeed in acquiring financial resources.
AB - Crowdfunding is supposed to 'democratise' the entrepreneurship funding process, as it provides access for women entrepreneurs and investors to participate. In Italy, the barriers for the participation of women in entrepreneurship, especially with regard to funding, are particularly high. In this challenging context, crowdfunding is a promising alternative, which we explore with a context-specific study from a cultural gendering perspective. Findings reveal that the interviewed crowdfunding experts and women entrepreneurs believe that, in crowdfunding, only the idea and personal commitment count, while gender does not. Interestingly, results illustrate several barriers for women entrepreneurs in practice. Overall, crowdfunding structures in Italy currently reveal gender-based barriers, but have the potential to create a more 'open space' of entrepreneurship in the future. While crowdfunding might not be the allegedly gender-neutral environment that it is often illustrated as, it might open up the path for more women-led businesses to succeed in acquiring financial resources.
KW - crowdfunding
KW - cultural gendering
KW - culture
KW - entrepreneurial finance
KW - equity-based crowdfunding
KW - gender
KW - Italy
KW - qualitative study
KW - reward-based crowdfunding
KW - women entrepreneurs
KW - Management studies
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85137059184&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1504/IJESB.2022.124791
DO - 10.1504/IJESB.2022.124791
M3 - Journal articles
AN - SCOPUS:85137059184
VL - 46
SP - 483
EP - 504
JO - International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business
JF - International Journal of Entrepreneurship and Small Business
SN - 1476-1297
IS - 4
ER -