STEM educated women entrepreneurs in Denmark, Latvia and Turkey: a context-based explorative study

The number of women entrepreneurs has increased significantly over the past years. However, literature suggests that women from STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields are inadequately represented in this growing trend. Meanwhile, the circumstances which cause this underrepresentation have not yet been sufficiently analyzed. To help fill this gap, this paper focuses on women’s entrepreneurship in specific educational and country contexts, acknowledging that relations between these factors play a crucial role in entrepreneurship. By means of an explorative approach, 21 interviews with seven STEM educated women entrepreneurs from Denmark, Latvia and Turkey have been conducted and analyzed with a qualitative content analysis. The results show the main motivations, challenges, and support sources for the women entrepreneurs, and provide important advice for future women entrepreneurs as well as for policy makers to increase the number of STEM educated women on the national level.