From need to action: exploring the motivations of women entrepreneurs through the triple-driver framework of women’s entrepreneurship

A groundbreaking qualitative study published in Frontiers in Psychology has shed light on a previously overlooked demographic in the business world: women entrepreneurs who establish ventures specifically dedicated to addressing the needs of other women. Authored by researcher Ligat Shalev from Zefat Academic College in Israel, the study introduces the "Triple-Driver Framework of Women’s Entrepreneurship," offering a comprehensive roadmap for understanding what inspires these founders to bridge societal gaps.

While historical scholarship has widely examined general entrepreneurial motivations or drawn comparisons between male and female business owners, researchers note that women building enterprises tailored specifically to female populations have remained under-researched. Shalev’s study seeks to rectify this gap by investigating how personal experiences, social connections, and environmental conditions intersect to spark mission-driven business creation.

Research Methodology and Participant Demographics

The study utilized a qualitative research design built on in-depth, semi-structured interviews conducted between September 2023 and January 2026. Out of an initial pool of 70 candidates, 60 Israeli women entrepreneurs met the strict inclusion criteria. Participants had to be the original founders of initiatives that exclusively or primarily targeted women’s needs—spanning sectors such as healthcare, mental health, domestic violence support, employment and economic empowerment, political engagement, and cultural identity.

The participant pool reflected a diverse cross-section of society. The average age of the entrepreneurs was 43.2 years, with a median age of 41, and enterprises had been in operation for an average of six years. Regarding demographics, 68 percent of participants were married or in relationships, 17 percent were divorced or separated, and 15 percent were single. The cohort was highly educated: 12 percent held PhD or MD degrees, 37 percent held master’s degrees, 38 percent held bachelor’s degrees, and 13 percent had completed specialized certificate studies. Ethnically, 93 percent identified as Jewish and 7 percent as Arab. Furthermore, 35 percent of the initiatives operated as for-profit organizations, while 65 percent were established as non-profits.

The Evolution of the Triple-Driver Framework

To analyze the motivations behind these ventures, Shalev applied the competency-based framework initially developed by Agarwal and Agrawal (2023). However, through explanatory content analysis, the empirical data demanded significant expansions and conceptual refinements, culminating in the creation of the Triple-Driver Framework. This new model categorizes entrepreneurial drives into three interconnected domains: personal drivers, relational drivers, and ecosystem drivers.

Personal Drivers: Lived Experience, Justice, and Autonomy

The study revealed that personal drivers are foundational to women-centered entrepreneurship. Rather than being driven purely by academic backgrounds or abstract financial goals, 44 of the 60 participants were galvanized by lived experiences—such as surviving trauma or navigating systemic marginalization—or a deep-seated, lifelong passion for a specific cause.

Furthermore, participants frequently cited specific personal traits and abilities. A strong sense of justice and the urge to correct systemic wrongs was reported by 29 interviewees. Interpersonal capabilities like empathy and attentiveness motivated 22 participants, while leadership, management, and execution skills drove another 22. Additionally, 21 entrepreneurs highlighted resilience, optimism, and the capacity to navigate uncertainty as key catalysts. Autonomy also played a role, encompassing both work-life balance considerations for mothers and a broader intolerance for traditional corporate hierarchies.

Relational Drivers: The Influence of Network and Absence

Interestingly, the study challenged traditional assumptions regarding social motivators. While Agarwal and Agrawal’s original framework emphasized broad social recognition and status, Shalev’s findings indicated that participants were rarely motivated by societal prestige. Instead, motivations were rooted in immediate relationships, family backgrounds, or notable mentors.

While 40 participants acknowledged the presence of female role models during their upbringing, only two explicitly cited them as direct catalysts for their ventures. Conversely, several entrepreneurs noted that the absence of positive role models or witnessing systemic dependence in their households served as a powerful driving force to carve a different path and build support systems they themselves had lacked.

Ecosystem Drivers: Contextual Needs Over Institutional Support

The research uncovered a striking disconnect between institutional backing and grassroots entrepreneurial action. While institutional frameworks—such as academic programs, incubators, and NGOs—motivated a small fraction of participants (eight interviewees referencing 11 institutions), governmental support was entirely absent as a primary motivator.

Instead, ecosystem drivers manifested primarily as the recognition of unmet contextual and societal needs. Forty-four of the 60 interviewees pointed to glaring cultural, medical, or economic gaps affecting women in their environments. Whether identifying a lack of financial literacy education for women or inadequate post-shelter support for victims of domestic violence, these founders acted directly in response to institutional failures and societal oversights.

Implications for Policy and Future Research

The introduction of the Triple-Driver Framework carries significant practical implications for policymakers, economic organizations, and business incubators. Historically, support structures for entrepreneurship have relied on generalized, male-centric or homogenous models that fail to account for the unique blend of self-oriented and other-oriented motivations driving women-centered enterprises.

Experts suggest that organizations aiming to foster female entrepreneurship must align their support mechanisms with the actual drivers identified in the study—such as fostering peer networks, recognizing social justice missions, and providing resources that address both for-profit viability and social impact. Because traditional institutional support was rarely cited as a primary motivator by the study’s participants, analysts argue that government bodies and financial institutions must improve the accessibility, visibility, and relevance of their support systems.

While the study offers robust qualitative insights, limitations remain. Conducted entirely within the Israeli socioeconomic and cultural context, the framework warrants cross-cultural validation through future quantitative and comparative research.

Ultimately, Shalev’s research reframes women’s entrepreneurship not merely as an economic activity, but as a transformative mechanism that converts personal adversity, core values, and empathy into systemic social change. By recognizing the intricate interplay of personal, relational, and ecosystem drivers, stakeholders are now better equipped to support the next generation of women-led innovations.