Textile and Apparel Industries

Advancing Women Entrepreneurs in Fashion Technology Venture Creation: Overcoming Funding Barriers for Women

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Abstract

Women overwhelmingly make up the fashion industry in terms of its graduates, workforce, and customers. However, the femaleness of fashion may prove a hindrance toward advancing technological innovation as women have historically garnered significantly lower investment rates. This study examines barriers to securing funding for women entrepreneurs in fashion technology ventures, quantitatively exploring how team composition impacts funding outcomes using global start-up data from Crunchbase. Findings reveal that female founders are more likely to act as sole proprietors and are less likely to secure funding. However, the gender composition of founding teams did not significantly influence funding success. This research offers insights for educators, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to foster collaborative entrepreneurship and improve funding opportunities for women-led ventures.

Keywords: Funding barriers for women, female entrepreneurs, fashion technology ventures, funding barriers for women, women in entrepreneurship

How to Cite:

Chenn, A., (2025) “Advancing Women Entrepreneurs in Fashion Technology Venture Creation: Overcoming Funding Barriers for Women”, International Textile and Apparel Association Annual Conference Proceedings 81(1). doi: https://doi.org/10.31274/itaa.18459