{"id":24689,"date":"2026-06-21T09:46:26","date_gmt":"2026-06-21T07:46:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.womenintechev.de\/?p=24689"},"modified":"2026-07-14T17:08:18","modified_gmt":"2026-07-14T15:08:18","slug":"behind-the-pitch-deck-the-reality-of-women-building-tech-startups","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.womenintechev.de\/en\/behind-the-pitch-deck-the-reality-of-women-building-tech-startups\/","title":{"rendered":"Behind the Pitch Deck: The Reality of Women Building Tech Startups"},"content":{"rendered":"

This article is based on \u201cThe Impact of Gender Bias on Female-Led Tech Startups: A Comparison Between Poland and Switzerland\u201d – a <\/em>master\u2019s thesis written by<\/em><\/strong> Dominika Wasylewicz <\/em><\/strong>as a part of a Double Degree Master\u2019s Program<\/em><\/strong>, a joint academic venture between<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>SGH Warsaw School of Economics<\/em><\/strong>\u00a0<\/em>and<\/em>\u00a0<\/em>ZHAW School of Management and Law<\/em><\/strong>.<\/p>\n

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Although diversity and inclusion are increasingly discussed, the technology sector remains highly male-dominated. When it comes to the entrepreneurial world, only 43% startups are female-led <\/strong>or founded within this sector (Investing in Women in Technology, 2024).<\/em> It is also worth mentioning that the global average for female founders in technology<\/strong> equals only 15%.<\/strong> When it comes to Europe, only 12,6%<\/strong> of female founders <\/strong>run businesses in this specific sector (Dziewit & Kr\u00f3l, 2024). <\/em><\/p>\n

As of 2023, women represent 14% of tech leaders <\/strong>– a figure unchanged since 2022 and only 6% higher than in 2015 (Digital Leadership Report, 2025). <\/em>Despite this gradual increase, female tech entrepreneurs continue to face structural, cultural, and psychological barriers<\/strong> that shape how their businesses develop. Their lived experiences reveal a more complex story \u2013 the one marked by ambition, resilience, self-growth,<\/strong> and continuous self-negotiation<\/strong> alongside persistent inequality.<\/p>\n

To move beyond statistics, the research explores lived experiences of women building tech startups in Poland and Switzerland. Based on 16 in-depth interviews<\/strong>, the study identifies key challenges<\/strong> faced by female tech founders and strategies<\/strong> used <\/strong>to navigate gender-bias. It also evaluates the role of support systems<\/strong> (mentoring, networking, and support organizations) in shaping growth opportunities.<\/p>\n

By examining country-specific factors, such as policy and culture, the study compares two distinct, yet surprisingly comparable, <\/strong>startup ecosystems to address one key question: how does gender bias shape the growth of female-led tech startups?<\/em><\/p>\n

Why Focus on Poland and Switzerland?<\/h2>\n

Poland and Switzerland represent very different startup ecosystems<\/strong>. Switzerland ranks among global leaders in startup maturity, investment volume, and institutional stability, while Poland is a fast-growing market driven by strong IT talent and startup growth.<\/p>\n

Poland ranked 33rd<\/strong> in the 2025 Global Startup Ecosystem Index, hosting over<\/strong> 3 300 startups<\/strong> (Poland Startup Map | Explore the Polish Startup Ecosystem, n.d.).<\/em> However, only 124 startups are founded by women <\/strong>(Poland Startup Map | Polish Startups Founded by Women, 2025).<\/em> With the share of around 33% of female startup founders<\/strong>, women still remain underrepresented within tech sector (Palchynska, 2024).<\/em> Switzerland, ranked 9th<\/sup> globally, <\/strong>represents the highest growth rate among Europe\u2019s top ecosystems (Startup Blink, 2025). <\/em>In 2024, almost 53 000 startups were registered<\/strong> (Record Number of Start-Ups Founded in Switzerland in 2024, 2024)<\/em>. By offering strong institutional support and political stability, the country attracted over CHF 2,3 billion in startup investment in 2024 <\/strong>(EY Startup Barometer Switzerland, 2025). <\/em>Even though, the country hosts around 3 600 tech startups<\/strong> (All Swiss Tech Startups, 2025),<\/em> women represent only around 20% of startup founders and roughly 10% in technology (Ecosystem \u2013 Female Founders, n.d.-a).<\/em><\/p>\n

This contrast reveals a paradox: despite market growth, supportive conditions, and ecosystem maturity, women continue to face barriers in entrepreneurship. <\/strong>The reason for the significant underrepresentation of female founders in technology appear to ex. Comparing Poland and Switzerland provide an opportunity to explore how cultural and systemic factors contribute to gender bias across different contexts.<\/p>\n

Gender Bias in Tech: Different Forms, Same Weight<\/h2>\n

One of the most striking findings across both countries was that\u00a0gender bias remains the most significant barrier<\/strong>\u00a0for female tech founders. However, the cross-country comparison revealed that gender bias doesn\u2019t manifest uniformly<\/strong>. Rather than asking whether<\/em>\u00a0gender bias exists, the study examined:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • How <\/strong>it appears?<\/strong><\/li>\n
  • How female entrepreneurs address it?<\/strong><\/li>\n
  • How support systems shape their opportunities in tech entrepreneurship?<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Gender Bias Is Real – But It Looks Different<\/h3>\n

    Poland: Visible and Explicit Bias<\/h4>\n

    Polish female tech founders reported more overt and direct forms of gender bias<\/strong>, especially in investor interactions, industry networking, or public recognition.<\/p>\n

    Many described being mistaken for assistants or marketing staff rather than CEOs, and having their technical competences questioned more frequently than that of male peers or even subordinates. As a result, Polish founders felt constant pressure to\u00a0prove their credibility and expertise<\/strong>, often over-preparing for meetings to avoid being perceived as less competent. Moreover, several participants admitted feeling taken less seriously in technical and investor settings<\/strong>, which shaped a more defensive and assertive leadership approach.<\/p>\n

    \"\"
    Figure 1: Challenges faced while running startups among Polish and Swiss female founders. Source: Wasylewicz, 2025<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

    Switzerland: Subtle and Systemic Bias<\/h4>\n

    In Switzerland, gender bias was\u00a0less explicit <\/strong>but more<\/strong> systemic.<\/strong> Female founders reported encountering \u201csoft\u201d skepticism regarding their leadership fit, scalability potential, and long-term growth of women-led ventures.<\/p>\n

    Rather than open discrimination, bias often appeared through\u00a0higher expectations, exclusion from informal networks, and gendered questioning during fundraising<\/strong>. Many Swiss founders described being framed within a \u201cplaying not to lose\u201d narrative, which shifted focus from growth to risk mitigation during investor communication. Interestingly, Swiss participants frequently pointed to\u00a0internalized barriers<\/strong>, such as imposter syndrome, self-doubt, and underestimation of their readiness to build business. This might suggest that in more \u201cequal\u201d ecosystems, female founders put more attention on the internal bias<\/strong>, rather than the external one.<\/p>\n

    <\/p>\n

    When Scaling a Startup Meets Family Life<\/h2>\n

    Another shared barrier was managing business growth alongside family responsibilities<\/strong>, particularly motherhood. One of Polish entrepreneurs disclosed:<\/p>\n

    \u201cAs a mom, I can say that there are certainly a lot of events that I can’t go to, because simply family is important to me. (\u2026) My decision, I have the right to do so, but also some loss\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

    Even though institutional conditions weren\u2019t considered as a serious barrier factor, according to several Polish founders the emphasis should be placed on policies affecting the labor force participation<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

    \u201cIn case of women in general,<\/em> aspects such as the length of maternity leave or solutions related to the partnership division of<\/em> responsibility matter a lot\u201d. <\/em><\/p>\n

    Moreover, Swiss entrepreneurial mothers encounter challenges while balancing professional and family responsibilities due to the school system<\/strong>. One of Swiss founders disclosed:<\/p>\n

    \u201cLook at school hours. Children are still meant to come home from school at lunchtime. What message does that send to women, to moms? You shouldn’t be working full time. It’s ridiculous.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n

    Balancing entrepreneurship with family responsibilities was a common challenge mentioned by both groups.\u00a0While Polish founders pointed to the importance of supportive labor and family policies, Swiss founders emphasized structural constraints.<\/p>\n

    Why Female Founders Pitch Caution, Not Vision<\/h2>\n

    Fundraising emerged as one of most challenging stages for female founders in both countries. Interviewed startup owners reported:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • Being asked<\/strong> more risk-averse questions.<\/strong><\/li>\n
    • Feeling pressure to justify decisions<\/strong> more thoroughly.<\/li>\n
    • Less tolerance for failure narratives<\/strong> while presenting their business ideas.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      This aligns with existing research showing that women are often asked how they will avoid losses<\/strong>, while men are encouraged to pursue wins. Many female founders disclosed that often they\u2019re supposed to prove their credibility<\/strong> more than their male peers:<\/p>\n

      \u201cAs a woman, you need to show more detail of what you’re capable of and you need to play your cards more open and really show that you can deliver. Male founders can show off a little more and be trusted\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\n

      Interviewed female founders admitted that they became extremely cautious while adapting their communication style<\/strong> and heavily invested in controlling investor narrative<\/strong>. As a result, many of them started to frame the growth of their ventures more conservatively.<\/p>\n

      Playing the Game Differently: How Women Succeed in Tech?<\/h2>\n

      Despite common barriers, distinct navigation strategies <\/strong>are adopted by female founders – shaped by ecosystem context.<\/p>\n

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      Figure 2: Strategies implemented by Polish and Swiss female tech founders while running a startup.
      Source: Wasylewicz, 2025<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

      Poland: Visibility and External Validation<\/h4>\n

      For Polish founders, b<\/strong>eing\u00a0visible and building a strong personal brand<\/strong> emerged as crucial elements of entrepreneurial success. As one founder explained, \u201cI’m developing LinkedIn to be seen in the industry – it’s kind of my speaking channel, or (\u2026) appearing at conferences to speak in public\u201d. <\/em>Many participants emphasized the importance of grassroot initiatives<\/strong> which facilitate support, the exchange of experiences<\/strong>, and the development of lasting relationships<\/strong> with industry experts. As one interviewee shared, \u201cI have selected such people who have this industry know-how (\u2026) and I keep such people very close somewhere, and we just update each other on how we are doing\u201d. <\/em>Finally, many founders highlighted that strong industry credibility is earned by conducting business thoroughly <\/strong>and consistently delivering high-quality work<\/strong>. As one founder stressed, \u201cI convince people just by showing that I am a stable company that delivers\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\n

      Switzerland: Internal Confidence and System Navigation<\/h4>\n

      For Swiss founders, internal confidence and the ability to navigate uncertainty <\/strong>emerged as key factors for entrepreneurial success. Many participants emphasized the importance of consciously developing self-awareness and self-confidence. <\/strong>As one founder reflected, \u201cI had to have a thicker skin (\u2026) I had to learn to be patient while building my business\u201d. <\/em>Participants also stressed the value of maintaining a solution-oriented mindset <\/strong>instead of focusing solely on problems. One participant explained, \u201cExplain complex things very easily, focus on the customer’s problem and always be solution oriented (\u2026) People tend to complicate things\u201d. <\/em>Finally, adaptability and flexibility <\/strong>in responding to rapidly changing environments were highlighted as crucial elements of entrepreneurial success. As one interviewee noted, \u201cAnother strategy which I followed was to have a certain level of flexibility, to let some space for unknown, because sometimes unknown also brings positive things\u201d.<\/em><\/p>\n

      <\/p>\n

      The Power of Support Systems: More Than Just \u201cNice to Have\u201d<\/h2>\n

      Despite different experiences, faced challenges, and strategies implemented to navigate in male-dominated industry, one finding was universal:\u00a0no founder succeeds alone<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

      \"\"
      Figure 3: Role of support systems in entrepreneurial journeys of Polish and Swiss female founders.
      Source: Wasylewicz, 2025<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

      Across both countries, female founders strongly emphasized the significance of:<\/p>\n