While the number of women in executive roles has inched higher, traditional technology companies still are largely established and run by men. Experts say they still see a pronounced gender gap at hardware companies and some of the more established technology sectors. The Internet world has been more conducive to women as a lot of women have started dot-com companies. But women haven't had equal access to capital, Leighton said. A recent survey by Venture One found that only 5 percent of companies that received venture capital money had female chief executives as of the third quarter of 1999.
Some women seeking financing say it's a tough sell.
Clarke, who was a consultant to large corporations before launching her start-up, said she still gets comments from people who are surprised when she starts using technical jargon. As a woman, you really have to push it a little harder. But the Internet's newness and myriad opportunities make it a lucrative field for women, said Alison Berke, a former resident of Great Neck who, in 1996, founded the Long Island chapter of Webgrrls, an online network for women interested in new media. She said she started the group to help women learn from one another. A few months ago, Berke moved to Tampa, Fla., but continues to run her e-commerce and Web design company here and in Florida.