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In the competitive world of entrepreneurship, mentorship is an invaluable resource. Social networks are vital for building relationships, identifying opportunities and securing essential support. But when it comes to making those fruitful connections, female entrepreneurs often face an uphill battle, new research finds.

Ethan Poskanzer

Gender segregation within mentorship networks plays a major role in limiting access to critical resources for female entrepreneurs, according to a working paper by��Ethan Poskanzer, an assistant professor at the��Leeds School of Business and Minjae Kim, an assistant professor of management at Rice University Business School, who tracked interactions between startup founders (mentees) and seasoned mentors over the course of an entrepreneurship accelerator program in the Northeast U.S. in 2023.

The study revealed that while both male and female entrepreneurs equally reach out to mentors of both genders, male mentors are disproportionately likely to accept outreaches from male mentees. This bias among mentors, although not necessarily conscious, is a pervasive obstacle for women launching startups, Poskanzer said.

“Men have an easier time getting access to valuable mentorship and resources through social networks,” Poskanzer said, adding that although the study focused on gender, this is a challenge for all underrepresented entrepreneurs.

This may be because people form closer relationships with those similar to themselves, Poskanzer said, which leads to men offering more help and referrals to other men.

“Investment is essential for entrepreneurs,” Poskanzer said. “In a lot of cases, investors tend to source their investments from people they know. So getting plugged into that world and getting those kinds of warm introductions can make the difference between being funded and not being funded. Just having a conversation with a mentor for a few hours can affect a business's trajectory.”

The limits of “lean in”

The study challenges the widely promoted "lean-in" message, which suggests women can overcome network segregation by pushing themselves harder to make connections.��

The researchers argue this advice overlooks a critical factor: The problem lies not in women’s efforts to reach out, but in male mentors’ receptiveness to their outreaches. “Mentors selectively decide where to distribute their resources, so it’s about the resource holders’ choice of who they’re going to work with,” Poskanzer said.��

A high-stakes problem

In another working paper, Poskanzer and co-author Tristan Botelho, associate professor or organizational behavior at Yale University, found these biases become more pronounced in high-stakes situations, such as when investors or senior mentors are making funding decisions. In these cases, women entrepreneurs tend to be rated lower than their male counterparts.

In one study, both men and women pitched their startup ideas to a panel of judges. In less consequential evaluations, women were rated slightly better than men. However, when the stakes were higher—such as decisions about funding—women were rated significantly lower.

“We found that when investors feel something is low stakes, they don't act on their biases,” Poskanzer said. “But when they’re distributing more money, they become more risk-averse, more cautious, and more likely to lean on these cultural biases about women and entrepreneurship.”

Addressing the mentorship gender gap

Poskanzer emphasized that programs must go beyond simply pairing male and female entrepreneurs. “Throwing people into a mixer and telling them to network isn't enough to overcome this disadvantage since it occurs organically,” he said.

Increasing female representation in mentorship roles could be one critical step toward mitigating these biases, especially in industries where women have historically been underrepresented. However, Poskanzer acknowledges this is a complex issue requiring systemic change.

Raising awareness is another starting point, he added, since many mentors are unaware of the subtle gender dynamics influencing their decisions.

“Entrepreneurship is a difficult road to travel alone, and social connections are essential for success,” Poskanzer said. “By providing support for all talented entrepreneurs, we can develop more innovations and drive both progress and productivity.”