Longitudinal study of perceived gendered differences of entrepreneurial program participants

Abstract

Entrepreneurial pursuits have historically encountered gender bias in many forms. The stereotypes associated with successful entrepreneurs combined with the upsurge in participation by women in entrepreneurship over recent years have sparked greater interest and research into its gendered differences. Using surveys to gauge the perception of knowledge and experience in entrepreneurship, we assess longitudinally over the last 5 years, differences in responses from men and women in an accelerator program at New York University, dubbed the ‘Startup Sprint’ program. Significant trends in confidence relating to STEM entrepreneurship knowledge and experience are tracked with notably lower average ratings for women. Halfway through the study, the COVID-19 pandemic occurred bringing with it external stressors and a transformation of learning and working environments. Considering the stressors of the COVID-19 pandemic and the transition to a remote educational environment, we analyze our survey results to better understand the impact of these changes on the gendered perceptions of entrepreneurship.