02-Nov-2010 13:22

Are there more male than female entrepreneurs?

I recently read a report in a Business Magazine about the dearth of women entrepreneurs involved in technology - & specifically in my industry, telecoms.

The research I scanned (there was pages of it!) basically showed:

The average age of a successful technology company startup founder was 39 (which seems to disprove the myth that technology startups are all by university students or college drop-outs or twenty-something year olds) & there were far more men than women starting new companies.

Overall, apparently, company founders, both men & women, were normally married with 2 or more children; & had approximately six to 10 years work experience - not necessarily within the industry.

The research I saw also interestingly showed that there was almost no difference between men and women company founders in the following:

• Both men & women had a desire to build wealth.

• Both men & women founded companies to profit from on business ideas.

• Both men & women were tired of working for a boss & wanted self-employment.

• Both men & women wanted to own their own businesses.

• Both men & women average ages at startup were the same.

• Both men & women were equally likely to have dependants & children when they started their businesses.

Now, I have no idea if the above research is in any way accurate, but my experiences dealing with successful telephone, technology & computer companies over the last 15 years or so is that; at middle management I meet quite a few women but at senior, director and owner-founder levels I meet very few women.

Are my experiences a true reflection on reality in the workplace, & if the above reports are correct (& I wonder why that may be), should it even be considered a problem?

Any ideas?