experiment

Description

This dataset was collected to examine whether gender homophily influences entrepreneurs’ preferences when selecting potential business angel investors. Gender homophily refers to the tendency of individuals to prefer interacting with others of the same gender. The study investigated whether female entrepreneurs are more likely to prefer female investors and investor groups with greater female representation. Data were gathered through an online experimental vignette study involving 393 U.S.-based entrepreneurs and prospective entrepreneurs. Participants completed two first-person video scenarios. In the first, a neutral administrative context, participants chose among three offices staffed by consultant groups that differed only in gender composition (male-dominated, gender-balanced, or female-dominated). In the second, an entrepreneurial finance context, participants chose among three investor meeting rooms with the same gender composition variations. After selecting a room, participants evaluated individual investors, chose one investor to approach, and then selected one investor whose funding offer they would accept. Participants also rated their comfort level, perceived likelihood of obtaining funding, and investors’ warmth and competence. The study tested four hypotheses. First, neither women nor men were expected to exhibit homophily in the neutral administrative scenario (H1a). Second, female entrepreneurs, but not male entrepreneurs, were expected to prefer gender-balanced and female-dominated investor groups in the business angel scenario (H1b). Third, female entrepreneurs were expected to be more likely than men to initiate contact with female investors (H2a). Finally, female entrepreneurs were expected to be more likely than men to accept funding from female investors (H2b). The results supported all four hypotheses. In the neutral administrative context, participant gender was unrelated to office choice, indicating no evidence of homophily. In contrast, female entrepreneurs were significantly more likely than male entrepreneurs to choose investor rooms with higher proportions of women. Female entrepreneurs were also more likely to approach female investors and accept funding from female investors, even after controlling for perceived comfort, expected funding success, and evaluations of investor warmth and competence. The findings suggest that gender homophily among female entrepreneurs is context-dependent and emerges primarily in environments characterized by gender inequality, such as entrepreneurial finance. The results indicate that female entrepreneurs may perceive greater trust, identification, or support when interacting with female investors. The dataset can be used to study gender disparities in entrepreneurial finance, homophily, social identity processes, and decision-making in investor selection and funding relationships.

Institutions

• Politecnico di Milano

  Lombardy, Milan
• Università Cattolica del Sacro Cuore

  Lombardy, Milan

Categories

Licence