for example the widespread gender gap in stem disciplines can be particularly relevant for innovative entrepreneurship moreover experienced entrepreneurs are more likely to succeed in their next ventures than firsttime entrepreneurs gompers et al additional mechanisms that can contribute to the observed differences in funding may include gender differences in network formation or other innate differences between women and men ie risk preferences aptitude for negotiation etc while it is impossible to control for all innate abilities and individual preferences the analyses presented in this section make it possible to disentangle some important mechanisms including propensity to hold a stem degree and past professional experience that may drive gender gap