Empowerment of women entrepreneurs by innovation and gender mainstreaming: From subsistence to business opportunity

• Rocío Ruiz-Martínez ^[1] ; Katherina Kuschel ^[2] ; Inma Pastor-Gosálbez ^[1]
  1. [1] Universitat Rovira i Virgili

     Universitat Rovira i Virgili

     Tarragona, España

     
  2. [2] CENTRUM Católica Graduate Business School
• Localización: Managing the future: challenges and proposals for post-pandemic society: 13-16 December, 2021 Universitat Rovira i Virgili / Teresa Torres Coronas (ed. lit.), Josep Moreno i Gené (ed. lit.), Angel Belzunegui Eraso (ed. lit.), 2021, págs. 278-292
• Idioma: inglés
• Enlaces
  • Texto Completo Libro
• Resumen

  • Startup tools (e.g., Elevator Pitch, Design Thinking, Lean startup, Business Model Canvas) have been found to be very useful in helping founders to develop high-growth ventures. These tools have been originally designed for opportunity-based ventures. They are highly effective tools, yet only available among the technology community in the analyzed context. This study explores the impact of a training program that combines entrepreneurship techniques with innovation and gender perspective. This program was created and adapted for women entrepreneurs at social-risk that run necessity-driven and subsistence entrepreneurial projects in traditional sectors. The qualitative research analyzed the experiences of these women and found improvement of women’s empowerment and evidence of an eventual change towards a more sustainable business model. This study shows the relevance and suitability of including innovation and a gender approach in the entrepreneurial training. We discuss the potential of these tools to contributing to gender equality and poverty alleviation. This study shows the relevance and suitability of including innovation and a gender approach in the entrepreneurial training. We discuss the potential of these tools to contributing to gender equality and poverty alleviation.