Leading with Diversity: How Women in Leadership Propel Innovation in Startups Projects

This study examines the role of women in leadership positions in Italian innovative startups projects and their impact on patent filing. Utilizing a cross-sectional quantitative research design, data were collected from 517 startups across Italy. The study explores the relationship between gender diversity in startup leadership and the number of patents filed, with a focus on Knowledge Transfer (KT) as a mediating factor. Grounded in the Resource-Based View (RBV) and Social Capital Theory, the research highlights the unique internal resources women contribute and how their networks influence innovation. The study also considers the impact of external factors such as non-natural persons (e.g., venture capitalists, banks), industry activity, and public funding on patenting. The results reveal a complex, albeit weak, relationship between women in leadership and patent filing, with some unexpected negative associations between gender diversity and KT. Despite these challenges, the findings offer insights into the multifaceted dynamics of gender, entrepreneurship, and innovation, contributing to policy recommendations aimed at fostering a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem. This study fills a critical gap in the literature by focusing specifically on Italy’s startup environment and the underexplored intersection of gender diversity and intellectual property.