Kan crowdfunding minska kvinnors barriärer för att starta företag? - En kvantitativ studie om den svenska crowdfundingmarknaden

Abstract

Even though Swedish society has come a long way regarding gender equality, there is still a long way to go. It has been found that several business sectors are not gender-equal. One of the more prominent sectors affected by this is the financing sector. Studies indicate that female entrepreneurs are systematically discriminated against when they apply for funding in order to start companies, which has led to an increase in the demand for alternative funding options. Crowdfunding is a phenomenon where a company or project is funded through a group of individuals, often via an internet-based platform. This form of fundraising enables entrepreneurs to reach a broader investment circle, which could increase the opportunities for female entrepreneurs looking to start their own business. The aim of this study is to investigate whether the Swedish crowdfunding market can reduce the barriers faced by female entrepreneurs when it comes to raising startup capital. To investigate this, we used a quantitative approach in combination with regression models where relevant variables were tested against each other. The study has generated statistically significant results which show that female entrepreneurs succeed to a greater extent than their male counterparts when using the crowdfunding platform Kickstarter.