Is the Start-up Community Really Just a Men’s World?
Are start-ups only for young men?
The start-up scene is often seen as a world of young, bold innovators who develop technologically advanced solutions at minimal cost. But the data tells a different story.
In neighboring Austria, a survey of 368 start-ups was conducted and published in the Austrian Start-up Monitor 2018. Surprisingly, over 50% of founders are over 35 years old, proving that entrepreneurship is often the result of experience and specialization.
Women in the start-up world: minority or equal partners?
Research data confirms that men still dominate start-ups:
- 50% of start-ups have exclusively male teams (at least two male founders),
- 25% have mixed teams (male and female founders),
- 15% are led by a single male founder,
- Only 5% of start-ups are founded by all-female teams or female solo founders.
What about Slovenia?
Women are very underrepresented in start-up entrepreneurship. Is it truly a field reserved for men?
Entrepreneurial mindset — the key to success
Success in the start-up world depends not on gender but on mindset and readiness for challenges.
Are you someone who works an 8-hour day and devotes the rest of your time to family and leisure? Or are you someone who likes to step out of your comfort zone, constantly learn, and always seek new opportunities?
I embraced the entrepreneurial mindset early on, even though I didn’t recognize it at first.
Experiences abroad: How Tunisia taught me business negotiation
During my studies, I wanted practical experience, so I accepted a job abroad. Tunisia became my home for ten months each year. There, I encountered a different culture, new business practices, and especially the challenge of building trust with Arab managers.
The first year, I struggled to find the right approach. Then I noticed all the businesspeople swore by Italian espresso coffee. I steered conversations toward coffee — first sharing Slovenian coffee-drinking traditions, then inviting them to a tasting. It turned out to be a great strategy, and business meetings since then started differently — over a cup of Turkish coffee.
Was this intuition or simply stepping out of my comfort zone?
Women in entrepreneurship: many roles, one goal
Female entrepreneurs often juggle many life roles — mothers, wives, homemakers, organizers, mentors, and businesswomen. When entrepreneurship takes priority, family duties are often shared by partners or extended family.
How do I balance business and family?
In the past two weeks, I purposely devoted afternoons to family time. We went outdoors to recharge our batteries. But next week, the pace will be different:
- Monday: Business commitments in Ljubljana; evening travel to Brussels.
- Tuesday: Addressing European parliamentarians on bioplastics implementation.
- Wednesday: Participation in the Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s Innovation Day and seeking synergy with companies.
- Thursday: Collaboration at the international packaging conference and selection of the Best Entrepreneurial Idea by Finance magazine.
- Friday & Saturday: Hosting the Green Hackathon on self-sufficiency within the Start-up Saša framework.
- Sunday: Family day in nature — no phones, no emails, just the four of us.
Conclusion: Is the start-up world really just for men?
No. However, it is true that women are still underrepresented. The key to success lies not in gender but in mindset, willingness to learn, and perseverance.
Entrepreneurship is not a job; it’s a way of life. And although there are many challenges, it’s those very challenges that drive us forward. 🚀
Eva Štraser
Founder of the start-up EVEGREEN
