Gender stereotypes in equity crowdfunding: the effect of gender bias on the interpretation of quality signals

S. Kleinert*, K. Mochkabadi

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Equity crowdfunding has the potential to democratize entrepreneurial finance and provide female entrepreneurs with new and equal access to early-stage financing. In this paper, we present first empirical evidence on gender stereotypes in the context of technology ventures in equity crowdfunding. Drawing on signaling and gender role congruity theory, we hypothesize that quality signals have different effects depending on whether they are sent by male or female entrepreneurs. Results taken from a sample of 263 equity crowdfunding campaigns run by technology ventures confirm our hypotheses. In line with gender stereotypes, management experience is beneficial for male entrepreneurs but detrimental for female entrepreneurs. Interestingly, media coverage as a third-party signal has the oppositive effect, being more effective for female entrepreneurs.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1640-1661
Number of pages22
JournalThe Journal of Technology Transfer
Volume47
Issue number6
Early online date11 Oct 2021
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2022

JEL classifications

  • g23 - "Pension Funds; Non-bank Financial Institutions; Financial Instruments; Institutional Investors"
  • g30 - Corporate Finance and Governance: General
  • l26 - Entrepreneurship

Keywords

  • Equity financing
  • Gender
  • Signaling theory
  • Gender role congruity theory
  • Equity crowdfunding
  • ENTREPRENEURIAL SUCCESS
  • BUSINESS
  • PERFORMANCE
  • FEMALE
  • INVESTMENTS
  • PERCEPTIONS
  • LEADERSHIP
  • REPUTATION
  • ATTENTION
  • INVESTORS

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