Challenges and Experiences of Female Entrepreneurs in Male-Dominated Tech Startups in Türkiye

Ünbaba, Yagmur (2025) Challenges and Experiences of Female Entrepreneurs in Male-Dominated Tech Startups in Türkiye. Masters thesis, Dublin, National College of Ireland.

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Abstract

This study aims to explore the experiences of women entrepreneurs operating in Türkiye's male-dominated technology sector, one that is shaped by both a developing economy and a patriarchal social order, and to examine how gender stereotypes and financial factors influence their entrepreneurial activities. A qualitative research approach was adopted, and semi-structured online interviews were conducted with ten women entrepreneurs aged 25–50 who had established ventures in sectors such as software development, artificial intelligence, ecommerce, IT consulting, mobile applications, Internet of Things (IoT) hardware development, and technology product manufacturing. The women entrepreneurs all hold undergraduate or postgraduate degrees and are from different provinces of Türkiye. They vary in marital status and life perspectives. Interview data was analyzed using Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis framework, which helped to identify recurring patterns of meaning in the participants' narratives.

The analysis revealed four main themes: difficulties in accessing financing and investor support; social and cultural pressures related to gender roles; individual and psychological barriers, including self-confidence and visibility; and limited networking opportunities in male-dominated environments. The findings demonstrate that women entrepreneurs face not only economic constraints but also social and cultural barriers that shape their entrepreneurial journeys in Turkish society. By focusing on the subjective experiences and interpretations of women entrepreneurs in Türkiye, this study addresses a significant gap in the existing literature on women’s entrepreneurship and offers practical recommendations for policies and support mechanisms aimed at promoting gender equality in technology entrepreneurship.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Supervisors:	Name Email McElherron, Lynda UNSPECIFIED
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Turkiye; technology startups; gender biases; women's entrepreneurship; entrepreneurial challenge
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > HQ The family. Marriage. Woman > Gender H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > New Business Enterprises H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > Issues of Labour and Work > Classes of Labour > Women and Work
Divisions:	School of Business (- 2025) > Master of Science in Entrepreneurship
Depositing User:	Ciara O'Brien
Date Deposited:	12 Feb 2026 10:40
Last Modified:	12 Feb 2026 10:40
URI:	https://norma.ncirl.ie/id/eprint/9132

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