WeEco Project

We are a transatlantic research initiative dedicated to exploring how women entrepreneurs experience inclusion and exclusion in entrepreneurial ecosystems in Colombia, Germany, and Switzerland. Funded by the Swiss National Science Foundation (SNSF) through the SPIRIT program and the German Research Foundation (DFG), the WeEco project brings together a team of female researchers from these three countries. Our interdisciplinary team combines expertise from feminist and economic geography, economics, and entrepreneurship studies. The WeEco project focuses on how women entrepreneurs navigate the complex landscape of entrepreneurship, with particular attention to intersectionality and inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystems. We investigate how various intersectional characteristics, such as socioeconomic background, ethnicity, migrant status, and care responsibilities shape their entrepreneurial experiences. Our aim is to provide a thorough understanding of the challenges and strategies of women entrepreneurs and thus contribute to the development of more inclusive and supportive ecosystems across different contexts. Team Members: Colombia Team Prof. Dr. Jana Schmutzler - Project Leader, UT Delft & Universidad del Norte Prof. Dr. Patricia Márquez – Project Partner, Universidad del Norte Paula Camargo – PhD Student, Universidad del Norte Germany Team Dr. Susan Schäfer – Project Leader, University of Jena Dr. Isabella Stingl – Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Jena Switzerland Team Prof. Dr. Heike Mayer – Project Leader, University of Bern Prof. Dr. Carolin Shurr – Project Partner, University of Bern Micaela Lois – PhD Student, University of Bern