Survey experiment shows investors focus on type of business rather than gender of leaders
A University of Portsmouth study found that crowdfunding investors prioritize the type of business over the gender of the entrepreneur. While researchers expected a gender-based bias, the results showed that industry preference, such as healthcare for women and fintech for men, was the primary driver for investment decisions.
Why it matters
This research challenges assumptions about gender bias in startup funding and suggests that industry-specific interests play a larger role in equity crowdfunding than previously thought.
edited by Lisa Lock , reviewed by Andrew Zinin
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Add to Preferred Sources Credit: RDNE Stock project from Pexels Would you prefer to back a man or a woman pitching a business idea? A new study by the University of Portsmouth published in the British Journal of Management suggests that, when it comes to potential crowdfunding investors, the answer may depend less on who is pitching and more on what they are selling.
Researchers surveyed 4,500 members of the U.K. public to explore what might influence their decisions if they were considering investing in a business through equity crowdfunding, where people buy a stake in a company in return for their money.
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