Gender-specifics in start-up strategies and the role of the entrepreneurial ecosystem

This paper investigates the extent to which females and males experience the support that is provided by the entrepreneurial ecosystem for their start-up activities differently. We further analyze how differences in perceived support affect the way the new venture is managed. The findings of our configurational analysis show that while women tend to mobilize more resources than men in order to overcome support constraints, men are more confident of their capabilities. We highlight that the start-up strategies chosen are a reflection of the perceived support from the ecosystem, the entrepreneurs’ current life situation, and the intended goals.