Technopreneurial opportunities in the green hydrogen economy: A framework for green-tech venture creation with gender-based insights

This study examines how technopreneurial opportunities influence green-tech venture creation in Malaysia's emerging green hydrogen economy, with a specific focus on identifying gender disparities and the mediating role of Sustainable Market Readiness (SMR). Integrating the Resource-Based View, Institutional Theory, and a Gendered Ecosystem Perspective, the research evaluates how capabilities and structural constraints shape entrepreneurial outcomes across genders. Utilizing survey data from 431 Malaysian entrepreneurs, Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) and multi-group analysis were applied. The findings indicate that technopreneurial opportunities significantly drive venture creation, with SMR acting as a vital complementary mediating mechanism. However, multi-group analysis reveals distinct structural disparities: male technopreneurs exhibit stronger effects in converting recognized opportunities and market conditions into actual business ventures. Conversely, female technopreneurs face persistent systemic challenges—such as limited access to finance and restricted entry into formal industry networks—that dampen the impact of their entrepreneurial efforts. Addressing these disparities is critical, as diverse participation enhances innovation capacity and supports more inclusive and sustainable transitions. The study advances theoretical integration and highlights the need for gender-sensitive strategies in Malaysia's green hydrogen ecosystem.