Women in Alternative Finance [electronic resource] : Exploring the Benefits of Equity Crowdfunding / by Francesca Battaglia, Emanuela Giusi Gaeta.

1.Introduction -- 2.Women in entrepreneurial finance: the academic perspective -- 3.Women in alternative finance: a focus on the equity crowdfunding -- 4.An empirical investigation on the Italian context -- 5.Conclusion. .

This book focuses on equity crowdfunding in order to shed light on female entrepreneurship. Global awareness of gender inequality has resulted in international efforts to alleviate disparities and promote women's growth. This book draws academics, policymakers, and practitioners' attention to equity crowdfunding as a good environment for female entrepreneurs to overcome gender gaps and establish a more inclusive and fair financial landscape. While women are often found to be at a disadvantage when compared to male counterparts in traditional credit markets, the book's our empirical evidence suggests that this is not the case for alternative funding channels such as crowdfunding. The book's distinguishing feature is its emphasis on the equity crowdfunding market, which could be viewed as the ideal environment for developing and growing female entrepreneurial skills. From this perspective, the book provides a clear recommendation to policymakers on how to support women in alternativefinance, by providing more specific and detailed rules and action plans focusing on this topic. Francesca Battaglia is an Associate Professor of Banking and Finance at the University of Naples Parthenope, Italy. Emanuela Giusi Gaeta is an Economic and Financial Analyst for the Italian Treasury Department, Italy.