{"id":299,"date":"2025-03-06T14:10:06","date_gmt":"2025-03-06T14:10:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.techrepublic.com\/?p=4295827"},"modified":"2025-03-06T14:10:06","modified_gmt":"2025-03-06T14:10:06","slug":"they-just-see-their-daughters-how-gender-bias-in-tech-costs-europe-e198-8-billion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.tecnoartesanos.com\/index.php\/2025\/03\/06\/they-just-see-their-daughters-how-gender-bias-in-tech-costs-europe-e198-8-billion\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018They Just See Their Daughters\u2019 \u2014 How Gender Bias in Tech Costs Europe \u20ac198.8 Billion"},"content":{"rendered":"
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The gaping gender gap in the European deep tech sector has cost it almost \u20ac200 billion over the past 10 years, new research has found. Women-led companies have had significantly less representation in both IPO and non-IPO exits, despite bringing in more value per exit than their male-led counterparts.<\/p>\n

<\/span>Women-led companies generate value but remain underrepresented<\/span><\/h2>\n

According to Europe\u2019s first Gender and Diversity Index, developed by the GENDEX research initiative, women-led companies have accounted for over 11% of the total value raised at non-IPO exits in the past decade. However, they have made up only 0.6% of the total number of non-IPO exits completed in that period.<\/p>\n

The Gender and Diversity Index was compiled using data from quantitative surveys and qualitative interviews to analyse diversity\u2019s impact within the European innovation ecosystem. Funded by the European Innovation Council, the report aims to help investors to self-assess their portfolios against standardized benchmarks, encouraging them to rectify imbalances.<\/p>\n

SEE: <\/strong>Women in Tech: Steps Leaders Can Take to Improve Retention and Career Opportunities<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

<\/span>Stakeholders\u2019 biases are holding back women-led businesses<\/span><\/h2>\n

Women-led tech businesses face greater challenges in reaching key milestones due to the inherent biases from stakeholders. On average, it takes them six months longer to secure their first term sheet than male-fronted businesses, and they received 1.8 times less funding between 2014 and 2024. The index also found that once woman-led companies receive funding, they often secure less favourable terms compared to male-led teams.<\/p>\n

One woman founder interviewed as part of the index shared her experience:<\/p>\n

\u201cI think men, when they see young women, especially in the mould of their daughters, who are so much younger than them\u2026 I think there\u2019s a bias towards women being less capable or that they just see their daughters basically. A little bit of paternalism on their part.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/span>Women remain under-represented in STEM research and business<\/span><\/h2>\n

The Gender and Diversity index<\/a> found that, while 42% of STEM graduates in Europe are women, their representation in key industry indicators remain significantly lower:<\/p>\n