AI: Friend or Foe for Female Identifying Founders?

AI: Friend or Foe for Female Identifying Founders?

Co-Authors: Rhea Alexander, Laura Martinez

Keywords: Gender Gap; AI bias; Female-Founder Funding, Systemic Bias, Strategic Design

Abstract:

The true impact of AI on culture and economies lies in the hands of its users, not the technology itself.
Human intervention is crucial for deploying AI, and strategically designed interventions can drive positive
change. This research project aims to leverage AI-enabled design innovation methods to address the
concerning decline in funding for female-identified founders (FIF) and their startups.
Despite FIF-led businesses generating higher revenue, funding for FIF has decreased from 2.1% in 2022 to
1.8% in 2023, coinciding with AI’s commercial emergence. This alarming trend raises questions about the
potential connection between AI and the widening gender gap in entrepreneurship and innovation.
The research paper explores internal and external barriers and enablers within the systems impacting FIF’s
access to funding. It examines the role of AI in support systems that potentially exacerbate disparities. By
highlighting trends and strategies for mitigating biases in AI, the paper underscores the potential of design
strategies to bridge the gap and foster a more equitable landscape.

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