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DOI: From Lab to Likes to Leadership: Social Media as a Catalyst for Women-Led Student Entrepreneurship in STEM
Shubhangi Srivastava , Amity Institute of Biotechnology, Amity University, Lucknow Campus Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, IndiaAbstract
Over the past decade, many female students have made great progress in studying STEM subjects. Yet their entrepreneurship is underdeveloped because of several problems. Female students experience problems with low visibility, a small number of mentors, and difficulties accessing funding or networks. On the other hand, social media has evolved to provide tools for learning, networking, branding, and even entrepreneurship.
In this paper, I will look at how women studying STEM fields can use social media to turn academic knowledge into viable business initiatives. The research presents the Social-Academic Entrepreneurship Model (SAEM). This model shows the process of moving from knowledge to content creation, audience engagement, personal branding, monetization, and leadership.
To develop the Social-Academic Entrepreneurship Model, I used a conceptual review method grounded in literature, new venture observations, and digital entrepreneurship trends. As a result of the research, it becomes clear that social media lowers entry barriers. Moreover, it provides students with flexible opportunities for experimenting and gaining visibility. Although the risk of digital burnout and platform dependency cannot be underestimated, digital entrepreneurship seems to be highly relevant today.
Keywords
Women in STEM, Social Media Entrepreneurship, Digital Branding, Student Ventures, Empowerment
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Copyright (c) 2026 Shubhangi Srivastava
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