Reaching Women’s Economic Independence
Through Entrepreneurship and Self-Employment

Women make up 52% of the total European population but only 34.4% of the EU self-employed and 30% of start-up entrepreneurs. Also, a visible presence of female business angels and investors doesn't mean higher investments in female-founded companies. All-male founding teams receive almost 92% of all capital investment in Europe.

Despite the increasing number of public policies and institutional resources designed to promote women-led business, the entrepreneurship gender gap still persists.

In our pursuit of raising awareness about participation and acknowledging the gender disbalance in entrepreneurship, to contribute to the upcoming proposal for a gender-aware framework for entrepreneurship for policymakers, we launch this survey to gain a better understanding on:

What are the constraints that women face when deciding to become entrepreneurs?

What factors attract women’s interest and motivate them to start their own business?

Which policies may benefit women’s entrepreneurship?

Thank you for your contribution!
Sincerely,

Board of the SME Europe of the EPP

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* 1. You are a ..

Woman

Man

Irrelevant

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* 2. Where are you from?

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* 3. What's the highest degree or level of school you have completed?

Less than a high school diploma

High school degree or equivalent

Bachelor's degree

Master's degree

Doctorate

Other (please specify)

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* 4. You obtained professional training / university degree in...?

Humanities

Social Sciences

Health and Care (i.e. Nurse/Doctor or taking care of elderly citizens)

IT and Computer Science

Engineering

Law

Economics

Education (Teaching)

Other

I have not obtained any education past high school level

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* 5. Are you an entrepreneur/ self-employed?

Yes

Other (please specify)

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* 6. If not, are you thinking of starting up as self-employed or creating your own business?

Yes

Maybe

I already own a business

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* 7. What type of entrepreneur are you?

I am a start-up founder / I started a business

I bought/ took over an established company

I am a successor of a family business

I am not an entrepreneur (yet..)

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* 8. What's the size of your company?

Self-Employed/ Freelancer

One Person Company

Less than 6 employees

Less than 21 employees

Less than 101 employees

Less than 251 employees

Over 251 employees

I am not an entrepreneur (yet..)

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* 9. You started (or would start) your own business because..? (You may chose several options)

I want to be my own boss. Flexible schedule and work environment is key.

Unlimited income potential here.

I want the opportunity to grow a business I am passionate about.

I am a natural leader. I want to make my own decisions and build my own team.

I want to leave a legacy behind for my children and grandchildren.

I have a unique idea/invention.

I want to make a difference and change the world.

I am not motivated to start my own business.

Other (please specify)

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* 10. What do you think would motivate more women and men to start a business? (Chose two options that you consider most relevant)

Better acceptance by investors

Better access to credits and funding

Lower taxes and less bureaucracy.

Having a mentor or access to networking groups with likeminded people.

Innovation-focused education and training on entrepreneurship.

Easy access to start-up accelerators and pitching events with private investors.

Market access assistance.

Empowerment by increasing cultural acceptance, highlighting role models and raising public awareness on gender-balance.

Other (please specify)

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* 11. If you had an investor, what would be most important to you?

Investor to understand my needs and me as a person

Investor to be result oriented and help business grow as fast as possible

Investor to be patient and invest with a long timeframe in mind

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* 12. Do you think men and women are motivated by the same goals, when it comes to owning a business?

Yes

If not, how do they differ?

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* 13. Do you believe that female and male entrepreneurs are perceived differently in society?

Yes

If yes, how?

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* 14. Being part of a start-up community (startupper/investor/ mentor), have you ever experienced discrimination or were you ever treated differently based on your gender?

Yes

Don’t know

I am not part of a start-up community

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* 15. If you experienced discrimination, in what context did it happen?

When interacting with clients/costumers

When meetings with potential investors/applying for funds

During networking events

I am not part of a start-up community

Other (please specify)

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* 16. As an established/wanna be entrepreneur, please, rank this and the following statements based on how relevant they are to you: Possibility of having flexible working hours and choosing your own schedule

Very important

Relevant

Little important

Not important

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* 17. Rank this statement: Creating your own project and watching it grow

Very important

Relevant

Little important

Not important

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* 18. Rank this statement: Being financially independent from others

Very important

Relevant

Little important

Not important

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* 19. Rank this statement: Making a positive difference in society

Very important

Relevant

Little important

Not important

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* 20. Rank this statement: Social status

Very important

Relevant

Little important

Not important

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* 21. Rank this statement: Earning a lot of money

Very important

Relevant

Little important

Not important

Thank you for completing our survey!

We are open to further suggestions or amendments to improve the quality of this survey. Please do not hesitate to contact us at office@smeeurope.eu

Reaching Women’s Economic Independence Through Entrepreneurship and Self-Employment

Question Title

* 1. You are a ..

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* 2. Where are you from?

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* 3. What's the highest degree or level of school you have completed?

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* 4. You obtained professional training / university degree in...?

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* 5. Are you an entrepreneur/ self-employed?

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* 6. If not, are you thinking of starting up as self-employed or creating your own business?

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* 7. What type of entrepreneur are you?

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* 8. What's the size of your company?

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* 9. You started (or would start) your own business because..? (You may chose several options)

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* 10. What do you think would motivate more women and men to start a business? (Chose two options that you consider most relevant)

Question Title

* 11. If you had an investor, what would be most important to you?

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* 12. Do you think men and women are motivated by the same goals, when it comes to owning a business?

Question Title

* 13. Do you believe that female and male entrepreneurs are perceived differently in society?

Question Title

* 14. Being part of a start-up community (startupper/investor/ mentor), have you ever experienced discrimination or were you ever treated differently based on your gender?

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* 15. If you experienced discrimination, in what context did it happen?

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* 16. As an established/wanna be entrepreneur, please, rank this and the following statements based on how relevant they are to you: Possibility of having flexible working hours and choosing your own schedule

Question Title

* 17. Rank this statement: Creating your own project and watching it grow

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* 18. Rank this statement: Being financially independent from others

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* 19. Rank this statement: Making a positive difference in society

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* 20. Rank this statement: Social status

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* 21. Rank this statement: Earning a lot of money

Reaching Women’s Economic Independence
Through Entrepreneurship and Self-Employment