The networks and success of female entrepreneurs in China

•Gender homophily - Women are more likely than men in a network containing multiple female contacts.•Otherwise - Male and female entrepreneurs in China enjoy similar levels of success and build networks similar in form and content.•Gender pattern in contacts - Women are cited for technical matters out of the public eye, and men are the preferred contact for representation.•Primary conclusion – Network theory predicts business success of the Chinese entrepreneurs despite controls for all gender pattern.