Abstract:
In pursuit of the beneficial outcomes of entrepreneurship, governments
and regional development organisations enact policies to stimulate
entrepreneurial activity. A growing focus of policymakers in emerging
and developed economies is the promotion of entrepreneurial ecosystems:
the interconnected system of forces that generate and sustain
regional entrepreneurship. Despite intense interest in entrepreneurial
ecosystems, the topic is under-theorised. Studies draw attention
to the positive effects of entrepreneurial ecosystems on the creation
and functioning of early-stage ventures; however, the specific mechanisms
through which ecosystems influence entrepreneurs are not clear.
To address this issue, we build on dynamic capabilities theory to create
a theoretical framework that identifies a set of forces through which ecosystems influence entrepreneurship. We propose that in vibrant
entrepreneurial ecosystems entrepreneurs are more able to sense,
seize and reconfigure resources and opportunities. Our theory contributes
to entrepreneurship research, has implications for policymakers
and practitioners, and suggests directions for future studies.
