Women Have the Right to Choose: Unpacking the Effect of Inclusive Training on Entrepreneurial Action

This project pilots an inclusive entrepreneurship training program designed to address gender disparities at the pre-entry stage, where gaps initially emerge and compound over time. Through a two-month experimental intervention in India, we compare two versions of an otherwise identical online program featuring three carefully designed inclusive elements: female instructors, case studies on female founders, and a unique “+1” social support feature. The study employs an innovative dual-track recruitment design combining preference- based and random assignment to ensure both scientific rigor and ethical considerations. Drawing on extensive fieldwork and partnerships with EDII and Emeritus, the pilot will assess treatment “dosage”, engagement patterns, and measurement approaches to inform the design of a subsequent large-scale RCT. While conducted in India’s entrepreneurial ecosystem, the intervention’s focus on universal psychological mechanisms of inclusion makes it relevant for both emerging and OECD markets. The findings will provide evidence-based insights for designing more effective entrepreneurship support programs.

Key facts

Principal Investigator: Naja Pape
Email: [email protected]
Affiliation: PhD Candidate, INSEAD