Abstract
•Little is known about the practices of female entrepreneurs in innovative clusters.•We therefore analyze the digital diaries of female tech entrepreneurs.•They co-develop their innovations together with their partners in the accelerator.•Accelerators are important for fostering innovation among female entrepreneurs.
This paper focuses on what female tech entrepreneurs who grow their business in innovative clusters are doing in practice. Based on longitudinal data on female entrepreneurs who develop their innovative venture in the cluster of San Diego, and based on an Entrepreneurship as Practice (EAP) theoretical lens, we reveal what innovative entrepreneurs are doing in practice. We show that despite their call for freedom in terms of organization, they are adopting somewhat classical working practices, adapting their working life to the daily routines of their stakeholders. Beyond a huge investment into seeking new clients and project management, these women are spending a significant amount of time on family responsibilities. Results are discussed regarding the role of the innovative ecosystems on these working practices. The contribution relies on the study of practices while innovating and while being a woman and on the use of calendars as a data collection method.