Entrepreneurial network composition: An analysis across venture development stage and gender

Purpose: This study explores gender differences in the composition of entrepreneurs’ networks at four new venture stages: discovery, emergence, young and established. Methodology/approach: ANOVA and linear regression on a sample of 134 female and 266 male entrepreneurs. Findings: Female entrepreneurs have significantly lower proportions of males in their social networks in early venture development stages, but similar levels at later stages. Research limitations/implications: Taken together, our findings suggest that just as women in traditional organizations adapt social networks similar to men in order to succeed, their entrepreneurial counterparts build more ‘male-oriented’ networks as they proceed through venture phases. Originality/value of paper: This study uses a representative sample of male and female entrepreneurs to explore network composition at four distinct stages. Our findings suggest that female entrepreneurs who are able to persist in the new venture process develop networks similar to their male counterparts.