Search Results (275)

The COVID-19 pandemic fundamentally disrupted assumptions about entrepreneurship, career planning, and professional development. This study explored how the pandemic influenced the entrepreneurial intentions of undergraduate business students in the United States. Using a qualitative methodology based on in-depth interviews with 31 students at a public Midwestern university, the research interpreted student narratives through the lenses of effectuation theory, resilience theory, and the theory of planned behavior. Findings revealed that many participants reframed entrepreneurship as a strategy for navigating economic uncertainty and enhancing personal agency. Students reported valuing adaptability, resourcefulness, and opportunity recognition, often experimenting with side hustles during the pandemic as a means of resilience. Their entrepreneurial thinking shifted from purely economic motivations toward aspirations for flexibility, self-fulfillment, and purposeful work. The study highlights the formative role of crisis contexts in shaping entrepreneurial identity among emerging professionals. It suggests that entrepreneurship education should move beyond traditional models, fostering skills for navigating complexity and building resilience. In doing so, the findings contribute to broader conversations about youth entrepreneurship, post-pandemic career development, and the evolving demands of the labor market in times of disruption. Full article

This study investigates the impact of digital technology propagation, specifically artificial intelligence (AI) and the TikTok application, on enhancing student entrepreneurs’ entrepreneurial knowledge, business experience, and the performance of their ventures. This research employs a mixed-methods design, combining qualitative and quantitative elements, with the quantitative aspect analyzed through Structural Equation Modeling–Partial Least Squares (SEM–PLS) and the qualitative aspect analyzed through in-depth interviews with student entrepreneurs. The survey included participation from 125 students, with three additional students serving as key informants. Research findings suggest that AI directly enhances entrepreneurial knowledge and business performance, whereas TikTok indirectly influences business success by affecting the acquisition of entrepreneurial learning. The utilization of AI has a substantial direct impact on entrepreneurial expertise and business performance. In contrast, the utilization of TikTok has a moderate influence on entrepreneurial knowledge, which in turn mediates its effect on entrepreneurial success. Offer practical implications for higher education institutions to integrate AI-driven analytics and social media marketing strategies into entrepreneurship curricula. Future research should investigate the regulatory framework, long-term implications, and the inclusion of other digital platforms to refine the digital transformation of entrepreneurship education further. Full article

Against the backdrop of evolving innovation and entrepreneurship education, this study investigates the multifaceted factors influencing college students’ innovation and entrepreneurship in China. By analyzing 98 cases of student-led ventures and applying principal component analysis (PCA) via SPSS 19.0, the research identifies key determinants across individual, institutional, and societal dimensions. The empirical results reveal strong correlations between entrepreneurial risk levels and practical experience (r = 0.82), pre-market research (r = 0.84), participation in entrepreneurship courses (r = 0.72), university innovation platform utilization (r = 0.75), social financing intensity (r = 0.68), and regional economic development (r = 0.53). Individual-level factors demonstrate the most profound influence, with institutional and societal resources providing complementary support. Based on these findings, the study proposes targeted recommendations to enhance student engagement in practical training, optimize university–platform integration, and improve policy-backed financing ecosystems, thereby fostering the sustainable development of college students’ innovation and entrepreneurship capabilities. Full article

In the context of accelerating digital transformation and growing sustainability imperatives, entrepreneurial ecosystems increasingly rely on open innovation and strategic collaboration to foster resilient, knowledge-driven growth. This study aims to examine how leadership behaviors and strategic alliances interact as enablers of sustainable innovation across macro (systemic), meso (organizational), and micro (individual) levels. To achieve this, this study employs a literature review, supported by bibliometric analysis, as its core methodological approach. Drawing on 86 influential publications from 1992 to 2024, two major thematic streams emerge: leadership dynamics in entrepreneurial settings and the formation and governance of strategic alliances as vehicles for innovation. The findings underscore the pivotal role of transformational and ethical leadership in cultivating trust-based inter-organizational relationships, facilitating digital knowledge sharing, and catalyzing sustainable value creation. Simultaneously, strategic alliances enhance organizational agility and innovation capacity through co-creation mechanisms, digital platforms, and crowdsourcing, especially in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). This paper highlights a mutually reinforcing relationship: effective leadership strategies empower alliances, while alliance participation enhances leadership capabilities through experiential learning in diverse, digitalized environments. By bridging leadership theory, open innovation practices, and digital transformation, this study offers critical insights for entrepreneurs, managers, and policymakers seeking to drive inclusive and sustainable innovation within interconnected global markets. Therefore, this study provides practical guidance for business leaders aiming to strengthen alliance performance through adaptive leadership and for policymakers seeking to foster innovation ecosystems through supportive regulatory and institutional frameworks. Full article

The B Corp certification is a voluntary designation granted by B Lab. This nonprofit organization evaluates two main aspects of a company’s operations: the positive impact generated by its daily activities and how its business model reflects unique practices that yield positive outcomes for its stakeholders. Sistema B is at the forefront of the B movement in Latin America and the Caribbean, working to develop an ecosystem that enables B Corps to harness market forces to address social and environmental challenges. However, the B Corp movement in this region faces significant challenges, primarily due to a lack of government support, including tax benefits and legal recognition. This study aims to advance the existing literature on B Corps by examining sustainability-oriented hybrid organizations that strive to reconcile profit generation with social impact within the context of Mexico’s socioeconomic landscape. Additionally, it seeks to enhance the understanding of how ventures navigate trade-offs between financial and social objectives, and to identify factors that can help address these challenges. Twenty semi-structured interviews were conducted with Mexican B Corps to explore the entrepreneurial motivations related to social objectives, the B Corp movement, and the internal organizational dynamics of balancing social and economic logics. We discuss how tensions arise and are managed, as well as the issues regarding regulatory tensions in Mexico and the challenges that stem from organizational complexities. Future research directions are also outlined. Full article

This research presents a comprehensive scientometric analysis of Entrepreneurial Orientation (EO), a fundamental concept in strategic management and business performance. Through a bibliometric approach, 4314 articles indexed in the Web of Science from 1975 to 2024 were analyzed using advanced network analysis tools such as VOSviewer to examine the evolution of scientific production, citations, authors, journals, institutions, and the most influential countries in the field. The findings reveal an exponential growth in “EO” research over the past decades, with a high concentration of scientific output in the last eight years. The United States leads in publication volume and citations, followed by other countries with an increasing contribution. Co-authorship patterns and academic collaboration clusters have been identified, consolidating key research lines that link “EO” with innovation, market orientation, and business performance. This study provides a comprehensive perspective on the evolution of “EO” research, offering valuable insights for academics, policymakers, and professionals interested in new theoretical directions and practical applications that foster knowledge development and business competitiveness. Full article

This study investigates how the timing of self-employment relative to first childbirth shapes long-term entrepreneurial outcomes among Israeli mothers. Drawing on rich administrative panel data from the Israeli National Insurance Institute (N = 73,141 woman-years), we follow a cohort of women who gave birth for the first time in 2010, tracking their employment trajectories over 15 years (2005–2019). Using random-effect logistic regressions, OLS models, and fixed subgroup analyses, this study compares women who entered self-employment before childbirth with those who did so afterward. The results reveal that postnatal entrants are more likely to operate smaller businesses and exit self-employment earlier, yet often earn higher income from wage employment, compared to their prenatal counterparts. By tracing these outcomes over time, this study demonstrates how key life events, such as childbirth, structure women’s employment paths and contribute to differentiated patterns of labor market participation. Situated in a context of near-universal motherhood and limited public support for working parents, the findings offer insight into the dynamic links between family formation, employment timing, and entrepreneurial sustainability. By adopting a life-course perspective, this study demonstrates how the sequencing of family and employment transitions intersect to shape access to economic resources and entrepreneurial sustainability. Full article

In today’s evolving society, meaningful development cannot be fully realized without acknowledging the vital role of the electronics sector, especially as it functions within informal markets. These markets have become more than just centers of commerce; they serve as informal learning grounds where many young people acquire entrepreneurial skills, develop resilience, and find alternatives to social vices. For many, informal entrepreneurship is not just an option but a means of survival and self-empowerment. Despite their growing relevance, the link between the entrepreneurial abilities nurtured in these informal markets and actual business performance has not been adequately examined. This study, therefore, aimed to explore how informal electronics entrepreneurs in a developing economy navigate their environment, overcome challenges, and create wealth through vision, innovation, and calculated risk-taking. Anchored in institutional theory, the research employed a qualitative approach, using cluster, purposive, and simple random sampling to select participants from key informal business units. Interviews were conducted, transcribed, and analyzed using QSR NVivo 12, allowing for deep insight into the lived experiences of the entrepreneurs. Findings revealed that 78% of participants emphasized practical suggestions that aid informal business survival, such as customer-driven innovations, adaptive strategies, and avoiding confrontations with regulatory agencies. Key attributes such as foresight, adaptability, and risk management accounted for 66% of the variance in corporate success. Strategic and innovative approaches are enabling informal firms to endure and prosper, since 61% of respondents associated these competencies with organizational success. The new BSP framework, which integrates institutional and contingency theories, illustrates how informal enterprises endure by conforming to or opposing institutional pressures and adjusting to environmental changes. The results indicate that, when properly understood and supported, the informal electronics sector may develop sustainably. This study demonstrates that informal entrepreneurship is influenced by formal regulations, informal norms, and local enforcement mechanisms, therefore enhancing institutional theory and elucidating business behavior in developing nations. The Business Survival Paradigm [BSP] illustrates how informal enterprises navigate institutional obstacles to endure. It advocates for policies that integrate the official and informal sectors while fostering sustainable development. The paper advocates for ongoing market research to assist informal firms in remaining up-to-date. It implores authorities to acknowledge the innovative potential of the informal sector and to provide supportive frameworks for sustainable growth and formal transition where feasible. Full article

Women entrepreneurs in small to medium enterprises (SMEs) in emerging countries play an essential role in the economy of developing countries such as Indonesia. Drawing on the resource-based view and entrepreneurship effectuation theory, this study examines how women’s entrepreneurial effectuation (WEE) modeled as a higher-order construct (HOC) comprising its four dimensions (LOCs)—namely, flexibility, experimentation, affordable loss, and pre-commitment—can influence employee performance (EMPRF) mediated by structural (STREM) and psychological empowerment (PSYEM). Using a disjointed two-stage PLS-SEM approach with data from 218 female SME employees, our results confirm that flexibility is the most salient effectuation dimension. WEE strongly predicts both STREM and PSYEM but shows no direct impact on EMPRF, highlighting that effectuation must be activated via empowerment mechanisms. PSYEM emerges as the strongest mediator of WEE on EMPRF, with STREM also contributing significantly and being amplified by gender equality practices; market orientation, by contrast, fails to moderate any paths. Theoretically, these findings enrich resource-based view (RBV) theory by integrating entrepreneurial effectuation dimensions and empowerment as human resource capabilities that generate inimitable performance gains. Practically, they suggest that women-led SMEs should integrate effectuation heuristics with targeted empowerment programs to realize the full potential of their human capital. Full article

This study investigates the evolution of customer-centric innovations within modern business ecosystems through the lens of servitization, a concept gaining momentum in contemporary service delivery frameworks. Recognizing the limited exploration of servitization beyond manufacturing, particularly in the context of value-added services, this research employs a multiple case study methodology focused on the tea sector in India and Nepal. Drawing on seven diverse entrepreneurial cases and supported by a thematic analysis, the study identifies nine critical factors influencing successful servitization, including knowledge gaps, procurement strategies, market segmentation, and customer engagement. Central to this investigation is the transformative role of structured training interventions, exemplified by the Chaya School of Tea, which catalyzed innovation and performance improvements among participating businesses. The findings highlight how digital tools, customer education, and strategic planning contribute to product–service integration, yielding enhanced quality, operational efficiency, and sustainable growth. This research contributes to theory by refining the concept of “servitization of services” as a strategic approach for empowering ecosystems through complementary offerings that transcend traditional service delivery. This work provides both conceptual and empirical insights into how service firms, particularly in under-researched sectors, can leverage servitization to drive long-term competitiveness and ecosystem-wide value creation. Full article

We investigate what drives small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in the Alps–Adriatic macro-region to offer green products and services. A sample of 2305 SMEs from Flash Eurobarometer 498 is analyzed with a multinomial logit model that distinguishes firms that already offer green products/services, those planning to do so within two years, and those with no such intention. SMEs implementing ≥ 5 resource-efficiency actions are 75% more likely to offer green products/services (RRR = 1.75, p < 0.05). An increase in the share of green jobs to >30% of staff triples that likelihood (RRR = 3.65, p < 0.01). Selling only services reduces the probability by 17%. Country dummies show Austria and Slovenia as early movers, while Croatia lags. This is the first study to apply a three-outcome model to green market activity in this macroregion, thus revealing nonlinear and country-specific patterns that a binary approach would mask. This study has multiple implications for entrepreneurial practice: (i) entrepreneurs should focus on high-leverage resource-efficiency bundles (energy, waste, circular design) rather than single actions; (ii) policymakers should combine financial incentives with green-skills vouchers to accelerate adoption in service-oriented SMEs. Full article

This study aims to analyze the influence of entrepreneurial marketing, internet marketing, market orientation, and social entrepreneurship orientation on business sustainability, marketing performance, and competitiveness. A total of 235 micro-, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in Jabodetabek and Sukabumi were successfully processed with SmartPLS 3 software to be analyzed using the SEM-PLS two-stage embedded approach. In micro-enterprises (MEs), the results of the analysis show that the variables of internet marketing, market orientation, and social entrepreneurship orientation have a significant positive effect on social aspects. Meanwhile, entrepreneurial marketing has a significant positive effect on environmental aspects. Furthermore, only two aspects of sustainability (economic and social aspects) have a positive effect on competitiveness and marketing performance. In another case with small and medium enterprises (SMEs), the results of the analysis show that variable market orientation has a positive effect on economic aspects and a negative effect on social aspects. While the social entrepreneurship orientation variable has a positive effect on social aspects, it has a negative effect on economic aspects. Furthermore, the economic aspects of SMEs have a positive effect on competitiveness and marketing performance. Environmental aspects have a positive effect on competitiveness, and social aspects affect marketing performance. Finally, competitiveness variables affect the marketing performance of SMEs. In general, it is necessary for the government to differentiate between MEs and SMEs because they have different business capabilities. MEs need a more social approach, while SMEs need a more economic approach in order to support their sustainability aspects. Full article

Our study investigates the drivers that foster the emergence of entrepreneurial responses to climate change among Indigenous communities. Indigenous peoples possess distinct worldviews and approaches to enterprise that prioritize community well-being and environmental stewardship over individual profit. Conventional entrepreneurship theories do not adequately capture Indigenous business approaches, leaving a limited understanding of how Indigenous communities merge traditional ecological knowledge with entrepreneurial activities to adapt to climate challenges. Through a systematic literature review (65 articles) and a case study of six Sri Lankan Vedda communities, we identified 15 key drivers that shape Indigenous climate-adaptive ventures and categorized them under five themes: (1) place-based relationships (resource stewardship, territorial connections, environmental risk factors); (2) intergenerational learning (traditional knowledge transfer, adaptation learning, collective experience); (3) community institutions (social networks, institutional support, overcoming the agency–structure paradox); (4) collective capacity (access to information, access to capital, community-oriented entrepreneurial traits); and (5) culturally aligned venture strategies (Indigenous business models, traditional products, local market relationships). Our study demonstrates how Vedda communities integrate entrepreneurship with cultural values to enhance climate resilience. Our research advances the field of Indigenous entrepreneurship while providing insights for policymakers and practitioners to support culturally appropriate climate adaptation strategies that enhance both community well-being and environmental sustainability. Full article

In the sustainable evolution of the entrepreneurial ecosystem, the efficiency of early-stage capital allocation directly affects the intergenerational transmission capacity of innovation resources. The financing barriers caused by information asymmetry urgently require institutional solutions. This study, based on tracking data from 19,463 startups in China’s information technology sector (2016–2019), analyzes how government-certified incubators (GCIs) optimize the sustainability of the entrepreneurial ecosystem through signaling mechanisms. The empirical results show that collaboration with a GCI can significantly increase the likelihood of IT startups securing venture capital by approximately 25%. This effect is not only due to the strict screening and resource support provided by GCIs, but also due to their role in amplifying internal signals from startups, such as the experience of founders and intellectual property. Notably, in the IT sector, the impact of GCIs is more significant for startups traditionally disadvantaged, particularly those led by female founders. Our research demonstrates that GCIs drive the sustainable development of the entrepreneurial ecosystem through three signaling mechanisms: (1) institutional certification screening, which optimizes the intergenerational allocation efficiency of ecosystem resources; (2) the signaling validation–amplification mechanism, which enhances the value of intellectual property and founder experience, alleviating investors’ challenges in quantifying startup potential; (3) inclusive signal rebalancing, where GCI certification significantly improves the funding success rate of female founders, breaking traditional market biases in screening disadvantaged groups and supporting the inclusive and sustainable development of the entrepreneurial ecosystem. These findings provide a new pathway for emerging economies to optimize the resilience of their entrepreneurial ecosystems through policy tools: for governments, GCIs achieve sustainable development goals at low institutional cost; for investors, the signal integration mechanism reduces investment information friction; and for entrepreneurs, certification endorsements accelerate market validation of sustainable business models. Full article

The aim of this paper is to clarify the influence mechanism and role paths of the entrepreneurial behavior of the underclass groups (EBUG) involved in urbanization from a microcosmic perspective and propose sustainable development paths for the transition of underclass groups’ entrepreneurship from the subsistence type to the opportunistic type. Based on the theories of planned behavior, the entrepreneurial event model, and social cognitive theory, this study constructs a theoretical framework of “intention–situation–behavior” of the EBUG involved in urbanization. Through a questionnaire survey conducted in three major urban agglomerations in Zhejiang Province, the theoretical model is validated by using structural equation modeling (SEM). On the one hand, perceived desirability, perceived feasibility, and land expropriation all have a significant positive influence on entrepreneurial behavior. On the other hand, land expropriation has a significant moderating effect on entrepreneurial intentions and behaviors. When the moderating role of land expropriation is not considered, underclass groups are more likely to engage in opportunistic-type entrepreneurship, which is primarily driven by perceived desirability such as achievement motivation and innovation orientation. In contrast, when land expropriation is considered, these groups tend to focus on survival entrepreneurship, which is mainly influenced by perceived feasibility factors such as social capital and market opportunities. The future survival and development of underclass groups is contingent upon urbanization, with the potential to influence the stability and sustainable development of society. The government should enhance the underclass groups’ perceived desirability through skill conversion, financial innovation, and digital empowerment; improve their perceived feasibility through the entrepreneurial resilience-building platform and the “Village Sage Mentorship System”; and refine the land expropriation policy by means of the securitization of collective assets, the multifunctional utilization of rural homesteads, and the cultivation of localized new business formats. By doing so, it can promote the transformation of the underclass groups’ entrepreneurship from the “subsistence type” to the “opportunistic type”. Full article