What are the most significant obstacles women face?
The biggest barrier is financial — it’s a little bit easier for men to get equity. Then, there are education barriers. Women aren’t exposed to how to start a business. In order to be an entrepreneur, you have to be able to recognize opportunities that others may have overlooked — and then have the self-esteem, knowledge, and confidence to act when others hesitate. Women have wonderful ideas but no idea how to put them into action. Q: Yet you report that the number of female entrepreneurs is rising. How do you explain this contradiction? A: Yes, but the number of failures is also very large. Women’s aspirations are also different. Their businesses tend to be home-based and service-oriented. Fewer women are trying technology. This has really affected the type of businesses they go into. Those women that started a high-tech business usually had a history of starting some kind of business. Q: What are the biggest male misconceptions about female entrepreneurs? A: They don’t think women a
