Beyond Bias - Exploring Gender Dynamics and Strategical Adaptations in Entrepreneurial Pitching
(2024) SMMN12 20241Department of Service Studies
- Abstract
- This thesis examines the gendered dynamics of entrepreneurial pitching, focusing on the experiences of female founders in Germany. Despite the continued growth of female entrepreneurship, there are still significant challenges, particularly in relation to fundraising. Therefore, this thesis focuses on pitching situations as a strategy to raise funding. A qualitative methodology is used, to explore the multiple interactions during pitch sessions, how gender biases manifest and influence how women cope with them. The research is based on semi- structured interviews with female founders and reveals a complex landscape in which gender stereotypes and prejudices of investors and society intersect, which can hinder equal treatment in pitching... (More)
- This thesis examines the gendered dynamics of entrepreneurial pitching, focusing on the experiences of female founders in Germany. Despite the continued growth of female entrepreneurship, there are still significant challenges, particularly in relation to fundraising. Therefore, this thesis focuses on pitching situations as a strategy to raise funding. A qualitative methodology is used, to explore the multiple interactions during pitch sessions, how gender biases manifest and influence how women cope with them. The research is based on semi- structured interviews with female founders and reveals a complex landscape in which gender stereotypes and prejudices of investors and society intersect, which can hinder equal treatment in pitching situations to raise funding. The results show that female entrepreneurs often use specific coping strategies and adapt their pitch tactics by distributing competencies and adapting their communication styles in order to circumvent and sometimes even counteract these gender biases. By analyzing the coping mechanisms and strategic adaptations of female founders, this study underscores the systemic gender inequalities that are still entrenched in society. It argues for the need for comprehensive systemic changes to support structures within the entrepreneurial ecosystem to create a truly equitable environment. The findings from this research go beyond individual experiences to highlight the broader, structural challenges that perpetuate gender inequalities in entrepreneurship. (Less)
- Popular Abstract
- This thesis examines the gendered dynamics of entrepreneurial pitching, focusing on the experiences of female founders in Germany. Despite the continued growth of female entrepreneurship, there are still significant challenges, particularly in relation to fundraising. Therefore, this thesis focuses on pitching situations as a strategy to raise funding. A qualitative methodology is used, to explore the multiple interactions during pitch sessions, how gender biases manifest and influence how women cope with them. The research is based on semi- structured interviews with female founders and reveals a complex landscape in which gender stereotypes and prejudices of investors and society intersect, which can hinder equal treatment in pitching... (More)
- This thesis examines the gendered dynamics of entrepreneurial pitching, focusing on the experiences of female founders in Germany. Despite the continued growth of female entrepreneurship, there are still significant challenges, particularly in relation to fundraising. Therefore, this thesis focuses on pitching situations as a strategy to raise funding. A qualitative methodology is used, to explore the multiple interactions during pitch sessions, how gender biases manifest and influence how women cope with them. The research is based on semi- structured interviews with female founders and reveals a complex landscape in which gender stereotypes and prejudices of investors and society intersect, which can hinder equal treatment in pitching situations to raise funding. The results show that female entrepreneurs often use specific coping strategies and adapt their pitch tactics by distributing competencies and adapting their communication styles in order to circumvent and sometimes even counteract these gender biases. By analyzing the coping mechanisms and strategic adaptations of female founders, this study underscores the systemic gender inequalities that are still entrenched in society. It argues for the need for comprehensive systemic changes to support structures within the entrepreneurial ecosystem to create a truly equitable environment. The findings from this research go beyond individual experiences to highlight the broader, structural challenges that perpetuate gender inequalities in entrepreneurship. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
http://lup.lub.lu.se/student-papers/record/9167763
- author
- Thiel, Leonie LU
- supervisor
- organization
- course
- SMMN12 20241
- year
- 2024
- type
- H1 - Master's Degree (One Year)
- subject
- keywords
- Female entrepreneurship • entrepreneurial pitching • gender dynamics • coping strategies
- language
- English
- id
- 9167763
- date added to LUP
- 2024-06-25 11:18:31
- date last changed
- 2024-06-25 11:18:31
@misc{9167763,
abstract = {{This thesis examines the gendered dynamics of entrepreneurial pitching, focusing on the experiences of female founders in Germany. Despite the continued growth of female entrepreneurship, there are still significant challenges, particularly in relation to fundraising. Therefore, this thesis focuses on pitching situations as a strategy to raise funding. A qualitative methodology is used, to explore the multiple interactions during pitch sessions, how gender biases manifest and influence how women cope with them. The research is based on semi- structured interviews with female founders and reveals a complex landscape in which gender stereotypes and prejudices of investors and society intersect, which can hinder equal treatment in pitching situations to raise funding. The results show that female entrepreneurs often use specific coping strategies and adapt their pitch tactics by distributing competencies and adapting their communication styles in order to circumvent and sometimes even counteract these gender biases. By analyzing the coping mechanisms and strategic adaptations of female founders, this study underscores the systemic gender inequalities that are still entrenched in society. It argues for the need for comprehensive systemic changes to support structures within the entrepreneurial ecosystem to create a truly equitable environment. The findings from this research go beyond individual experiences to highlight the broader, structural challenges that perpetuate gender inequalities in entrepreneurship.}},
author = {{Thiel, Leonie}},
language = {{eng}},
note = {{Student Paper}},
title = {{Beyond Bias - Exploring Gender Dynamics and Strategical Adaptations in Entrepreneurial Pitching}},
year = {{2024}},
}