How women CEOs’ financial knowledge and firm homophily affect venture performance

•Women CEOs report having less knowledge of alternative forms of funding capital sources than their male CEO counterparts.•Increasing funding knowledge is a way to level the playing field between female and male CEOs leading new ventures.•Funding knowledge is a key factor for why women CEO led ventures perform differently than their male CEO counterparts.•More women ownership in new ventures provides women CEOs with needed funding knowledge.•Intermediary organizations for women entrepreneurs can provide additional support to overcome systemic challenges.