Business schools are increasingly addressing gender disparities in entrepreneurship, focusing on creating equitable opportunities for women-led start-ups. This push comes as recent reports highlight that a significant proportion of young people cannot name a single female entrepreneur and are four times more likely to associate entrepreneurship with men.
According to a February report by the UK Government’s Women-Led High-Growth Enterprise Taskforce, women-led businesses receive less than 2% of venture capital funding in the UK. Despite improvements in various business sectors, women’s progress in entrepreneurship remains inconsistent. For instance, the proportion of women on boards rose by 3.6% globally last year, reaching 23.3%, as reported by Deloitte.
Alvia Dibby Shadqah, an MSc Management student from Indonesia, exemplifies the rising female entrepreneurial spirit. Her team’s venture, Hi-Fond, which offers an edible preservative coating for fruits, secured a runner-up position in Imperial College Business School’s WE Innovate challenge. Shadqah acknowledges the intimidating nature of a male-dominated entrepreneurial space but praises Imperial’s inclusive programs that support female entrepreneurs.
The Enterprise Lab at Imperial College London has supported over 500 women in the past decade, providing workshops, prototyping facilities, networking events, and mentoring. The WE Innovate challenge, involving eight university partners, awards over £250,000 in equity-free grants to emerging businesses. Sarah Ranchev-Hale, head of the lab, notes increased awareness and support for women’s entrepreneurship but emphasizes ongoing challenges, including gender biases and the need for more female role models.
Similarly, Elina Cohen-Peirano, a Masters in Management graduate from Iéseg in France, is on her third start-up, Urone, which partners with business schools to foster entrepreneurship. She highlights the dual challenge faced by young female entrepreneurs: balancing academic responsibilities with navigating gender inequalities.
Business schools are actively working to address these challenges. HEC Paris and Essec are among those increasing female representation in entrepreneurship programs. Guy Champagne of Essca in France emphasizes the need for societal support, while Jurek Sikorski from Henley Business School notes a growing recognition of gender bias and an increase in funding for female-led ventures.
As the entrepreneurial landscape evolves, these educational institutions play a crucial role in leveling the playing field and supporting women in overcoming persistent barriers.
