Entrepreneurial Success Research Articles

Mindfulness, refugees’ perception of the host community, social capital and entrepreneurial outcomes – a study of refugees in Uganda

PurposeWith the continued influx of refugees, entrepreneurship is increasingly becoming a viable avenue for refugee socioeconomic integration. The paper examines the effects of mindfulness, refugees’ perceptions of the host community and social capital on refugees’ entrepreneurial abilities, intentions and success.Design/methodology/approachThe paper uses data from two studies conducted in refugee settlements in Uganda. Study 1 used a sample of 395 refugees, while Study 2 used a sample of 181 refugee entrepreneurs. Serial mediation analyses were conducted for both studies using the PROCESS Macro.FindingsAs hypothesized, mindfulness, perceptions of the host community and social capital were significantly correlated to refugees’ entrepreneurial self-efficacy, alertness and intentions. Mindfulness and perceptions were further correlated with perceived entrepreneurial success. The serial mediation hypothesis of the effects of mindfulness on entrepreneurial self-efficacy, alertness and intentions via refugees’ perception of the host community and social capital was supported. On the other hand, whereas refugees’ perceptions of the host community mediated the effects of mindfulness on entrepreneurial success, social capital did not.Social implicationsThe study suggests that socioeconomic integration policies, processes and interventions, especially those promoting refugee entrepreneurship, should pay close attention to the social perceptions between the refugees and the host communities.Originality/valueThe paper provides insights into how mindfulness and perceptions of the host community influence refugees’ social capital and, consequently, their entrepreneurial ability and outcomes. The study suggests that the nature and quality of the social capital of refugees in less developed countries should be given further attention.

Identifying the Key Success Factors for Nascent Moroccan Entrepreneurs: A Qualitative Study

This article examines the factors that explain the entrepreneurial success of nascent entrepreneurs who received support from entrepreneurial support structures before setting up their own businesses. To arrive at the results, an exploratory qualitative study was conducted with 10 entrepreneurs operating in the commerce sector. This research reveals various factors contributing to entrepreneurial success, classified into six categories: psycho-behavioral, cultural, quality-of-life, managerial, financial, and institutional factors. It appears that entrepreneurial success is multifactorial and does not depend on a single factor but on the combination and interaction of multiple individual, organizational, and contextual elements. Each entrepreneur has a unique pathway, influenced by their characteristics and the environment in which they operate, which means that support strategies need to be tailored to the specific needs of each entrepreneur. The implications of this research extend to researchers, practitioners, and stakeholders involved in local and regional development.

Women entrepreneurs in emerging Saudi Arabia: exploring the impact of innovation, risk and perseverance

PurposeSaudi Vision 2030 is centred around innovation, entrepreneurship and women’s empowerment to foster economic growth and bring about social change. In this context, this study examines the impact of product innovation on the success of women entrepreneurs in Saudi Arabia, who constitute around 42% of the population and experience empowerment through recent reforms. Additionally, the study explores the moderating effect of risk-taking behaviour and the mediating role of perseverance.Design/methodology/approachEmploying a quantitative design, this study collected data from 256 Saudi women entrepreneurs from five major cities using a snowball sampling technique. The data were gathered through a survey questionnaire and analysed in SmartPLS 4.FindingsThe results revealed that product innovation positively impacts both entrepreneurial perseverance and women’s entrepreneurial success. Furthermore, the moderating role of risk-taking behaviour and the mediating role of perseverance were found to be statistically significant in the relationship between product innovation and women’s entrepreneurial success.Practical implicationsThe research findings help policymakers to focus on important factors that can harness women’s entrepreneurship. The Saudi government and society should offer increased financial, regulatory and moral support to women entrepreneurs to achieve the National Vision 2030.Originality/valueThis research provides empirical evidence on the crucial topic of women’s entrepreneurship in the context of Saudi Arabia, specifically from the perspective of product innovation, risk-taking behaviour and perseverance. The findings provide important practical, social and regulatory implications for various stakeholders.

Phenomenological insights into socio-psychological and network dynamics of women entrepreneurs

PurposeThis study investigates the socio-psychological and network dynamics influencing women’s entrepreneurial journeys in Bangladesh. It focuses on understanding how societal expectations, financial barriers and emotional resilience shape these women’s entrepreneurial experiences and outcomes.Design/methodology/approachA hermeneutic phenomenological approach was employed, involving in-depth interviews and focus group discussions with 15 women entrepreneurs from various industries in Bangladesh. Thematic analysis was used to identify critical patterns and themes in their experiences.FindingsSix major themes emerged from the data: societal biases and constraints, financial hurdles, balancing family and work, psychosocial processes, the impact of social networks and strategic interventions. The findings not only reveal the deeply ingrained gender biases, limited access to financial resources and the emotional toll of juggling professional and domestic responsibilities but also underscore the remarkable resilience of these women in the face of such challenges.Practical implicationsThe study offers actionable insights for policymakers, support organizations and researchers. It underscores the urgent need for gender-sensitive financial policies, restructuring mentorship programs to include emotional support and developing cultural awareness campaigns to challenge societal norms that hinder women entrepreneurs.Originality/valueThis research uniquely contributes to the underexplored psychosocial dimensions of women’s entrepreneurship in Bangladesh. It highlights how emotional resilience and societal dynamics influence entrepreneurial success, offering valuable insights for enhancing support systems for women entrepreneurs.

Grit and individual entrepreneurial orientation: are passion and perseverance the basis for entrepreneurial performance?

Purpose This paper aims to evaluate the relationship between grit and individual entrepreneurial orientation (IEO) of Brazilian startup founders. Design/methodology/approach To understand the relationship between IEO and grit, a quantitative and descriptive research was conducted with 124 founders of Brazilian startups through T-test and analysis of variance analyses. Findings The authors evidenced that perseverance has a greater correlation with IEO than passion. It was also identified that the perseverance of novice entrepreneurs is lower than that of established ones. Practical implications The authors contribute to advancing the prediction of entrepreneurial success. Furthermore, this study contributes to a discussion about behaviours that influence entrepreneurial performance. In the managerial field, it provides inputs to guide entrepreneurial training and development programmes. Originality/value The results of this research contribute to a discussion and reflection on the importance of passion for business and how to ensure greater perseverance in entrepreneurs.

Research on Integration of Innovation and Entrepreneurship Education Resources Based on Embedded Neural Network Algorithm

With the comprehensive promotion of the national innovation-driven development strategy, innovation and entrepreneurship education has become the core battlefield for cultivating talents with innovative spirit, entrepreneurial ability, and social responsibility. This field is not only related to individual growth and career development, but also the core engine for promoting the transformation and upgrading of the national economy and achieving innovation-driven development. This paper introduces advanced embedded network technology to explore new paths for optimizing resource allocation. This paper constructs a multi-level innovation and entrepreneurship education resource integration model based on embedded network technology. Based on the clustering results of embedded networks, this paper further designs a targeted resource integration scheme. Several typical cases were selected for empirical analysis. By comparing and analyzing key indicators such as educational effectiveness, student satisfaction, and entrepreneurial success rate before and after implementing resource integration, the application effectiveness of embedded network technology in innovation and entrepreneurship education resource integration was evaluated. The practical results show that this model can significantly improve the efficiency and quality of educational resource utilization, providing strong support for the sustainable and healthy development of innovation and entrepreneurship education.

Individual Learning Behavior and Entrepreneurial Success: The Mediating Role of Entrepreneurial Bricolage among Micro-entrepreneurs in Uganda

Individual Learning Behavior and Entrepreneurial Success: The Mediating Role of Entrepreneurial Bricolage among Micro-entrepreneurs in Uganda

The Nexus of Entrepreneurial Leadership and Entrepreneurial Success with a Mediation of Technology Management Processes: From the Perspective of the Small- and Medium-Sized Enterprises of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Individual leadership styles, including entrepreneurial leadership (EL), vary and encompass creative urges, risk-taking, decision-making, and a proactive mindset. This research explores how entrepreneurial leadership (EL) can positively impact entrepreneurial success (ES). It also highlights the positive influence that EL has on ES and investigates how technology management processes (TMPs) can play a mediating role. For this purpose, data were collected from employees in the SMEs sector in KP, Pakistan. The results indicate that EL has a significant relationship with ES and TMPs. Findings also reveal that TMPs partially mediate the relationship between EL and ES. Based on the findings, policy-makers and regulators can use the results of this study to design policies that encourage entrepreneurial activity and foster an environment favorable to SMEs in KP. This study’s findings can help KP officials understand the elements that influence the success of SMEs and devise policies that encourage the growth of technology management systems and diverse teams in SMEs.

Understanding women entrepreneurship in Vietnam: motivators and barriers through integration of two theoretical frameworks

PurposeThe purpose of this research is to explore the motivators and barriers faced by successful women entrepreneurs in Vietnam, a country with high rates of early-stage and established business ownership by women. By integrating the push-pull theory with macro, meso, and micro-level factors, this study provides a comprehensive overview of the factors influencing female entrepreneurship in this context.Design/methodology/approachThe data for this exploratory qualitative study were collected through in-depth semi-structured interviews with 31 successful female entrepreneurs in Vietnam. The analysis was conducted using NVivo software, employing thematic analysis to identify the motivators and barriers associated with women’s entrepreneurship.FindingsThe findings indicate that women are motivated to start businesses by push factors like job dissatisfaction, economic improvement, and family support, as well as pull factors such as time flexibility, autonomy, and personal development. Barriers are identified at different levels: micro-level challenges include lack of financial support, inadequate skills, and work-life balance issues; meso-level barriers involve insufficient training programs, and macro-level barriers are shaped by gender prejudice. Notably, specific to the sectors, the lack of business training is a major challenge for women in consultancy, tourism, and retail sectors, alongside financial constraints in retail and services.Originality/valueAs a theoretical contribution, this study presents a novel model that integrates push/pull theory with macro, meso, and micro-level factors to analyze the motivators and barriers for female entrepreneurship. This integrated model offers a comprehensive view of women’s entrepreneurship in Vietnam’s transitional economy, enhancing understanding of their motivations and challenges, addressing existing gaps, and suggesting practical implications.

Determining Indicators of RIDA Framework for Entrepreneurial Success in Halal Tourism

Determining Indicators of RIDA Framework for Entrepreneurial Success in Halal Tourism

Fostering entrepreneurial success from the classroom: unleashing the potential of generative AI through technology-to-performance chain. A multi-case study approach

Fostering entrepreneurial success from the classroom: unleashing the potential of generative AI through technology-to-performance chain. A multi-case study approach

The Nexus of Sustainability Innovation, Knowledge Application, and Entrepreneurial Success: Exploring the Role of Environmental Awareness

The Nexus of Sustainability Innovation, Knowledge Application, and Entrepreneurial Success: Exploring the Role of Environmental Awareness

Startup Survival Forecasting: A Multivariate AI Approach Based on Empirical Knowledge

Predicting the survival of startups is a complex challenge due to the multifaceted nature of entrepreneurial ecosystems and the dynamic interplay of internal and external factors. Despite advances in empirical research, existing models often lack integration with robust conceptual frameworks. This study addresses these gaps by developing a multivariate AI-driven model for predicting startup survival, leveraging Lipschitz extensions, neural networks, and linear regression. Using a dataset of 20 startups, selected across diverse industries and evaluated on attributes such as team dynamics, market conditions, and financial metrics, the model demonstrated high accuracy and clustering capabilities. Key findings highlight the pivotal role of team dynamics and product differentiation in determining survival probabilities. By integrating conceptual insights with empirical data, the study bridges gaps in existing literature and offers a practical decision-making tool for entrepreneurs, investors, and policymakers. These findings underscore the importance of fostering collaborative, innovative ecosystems to enhance entrepreneurial success and societal well-being.

Executive functions: a fresh perspective for entrepreneurship education

PurposeThis paper introduces executive functions (EFs)–i.e. high-level cognitive processes that are elicited in novel and non-routinised situations–into discussions within entrepreneurship education (EE). By reviewing the existing literature, it highlights how EFs are important for the entrepreneur, their role in the entrepreneurial process and implications for improving EE.Design/methodology/approachWe conduct a literature review bridging cognitive psychology, EE and entrepreneurship fields to clarify the role of EFs in the entrepreneurial process. To do so, we define EFs and then propose a model of the entrepreneurial process to frame our review and identify knowledge and gaps in current research.FindingsThis review shows why EFs are valuable for EE and calls for more focus on them to better prepare students for entrepreneurship and general life challenges. The findings underscore the importance of EFs in understanding key aspects of the entrepreneurial process. Although EFs are studied in the entrepreneurship and EE fields, they are rarely conceptualised from a cognitive psychology perspective, with research often focusing on isolated EF components instead of examining them as a whole.Originality/valueThis review is the first to highlight the role of EFs in the entrepreneurial process in a structured way. Integrating cognitive psychology insights on EFs can enrich EE for both venture creation and value creation approaches while also supporting the development of more effective programs. This focus on EFs also provides a fresh perspective and a valuable lens for understanding complex phenomena such as cognition, learning and the factors behind success and failure in entrepreneurship.

Redefining the personality profiles of early-stage solopreneurs: A cross-sector study

AbstractThis study explores the diversity in the personality profiles of solopreneurs in high- and non-high-tech sectors during the initial business phase, driven by the need to determine whether sector-specific personality traits are crucial for entrepreneurial success. Utilizing the Big Five personality traits (BFPT), we analyze data on 4,470 solopreneurs from the IAB/ZEW Start-up Panel (2018 and 2019 waves). This study incorporates comprehensive Big Five personality, exploratory factor, cluster, and heatmap analyses. These methods reveal significant differences between solopreneurs and the general population, particularly regarding openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism. The analysis identifies three main industry sectors that reflect the range of entrepreneurial approaches. Despite sectoral diversity, Big Five profiles of entrepreneurs are homogenous, challenging the assumption that different sectors require distinct personality profiles. The findings underscore the importance of self-awareness and accurate self-perception in fostering innovation and making prudent decisions during the early stages of entrepreneurship.

Factors Affecting Growth and Success of Green and Sustainable Entrepreneurship: An Empirical Study of Indian Startups

Green entrepreneurship is about building businesses that balance environmental care with profit-making. In India, many start-ups are leading projects in areas like clean energy, waste management, and sustainable agriculture. These businesses are growing in response to rising environmental awareness and changing consumer preferences. Green entrepreneurs thus play an important role in reducing pollution, creating jobs, and promoting sustainable lifestyles. Their work encourages eco-friendly habits and reshapes supply chains to minimize environmental harm. As they drive both social and economic value, green start-ups contribute to building a more sustainable future for India. This study examines the factors that influence the growth and success of green entrepreneurship in India. The study will look at what is needed by these initiatives to thrive and succeed. This will help policymakers and other organizations to take the necessary steps. A sample of 223 people involved in Indian sturt-ups were surveyed to explore the factors that affects the growth and success of green and sustainable entrepreneurship and found that Consumer Demand, Competitive advantage, Collaboration and Networks and Corporate and Social Responsibility (CSR) are the factors that affects the growth and success of green and sustainable entrepreneurship

The role of financial literacy in driving sustainable entrepreneurial success: A case study of Lapo Microfinance Institution (MFI), Nigeria

The role of financial literacy in driving sustainable entrepreneurial success: A case study of Lapo Microfinance Institution (MFI), Nigeria

The Financial Superiority of Cooperation in Household Entrepreneurship: Insights From the Chinese Household Financial Survey

ABSTRACTTeamwork is common in entrepreneurship, yet its impact on households remains underexplored. This study investigates the differences in household entrepreneurship outcomes between cooperative and solo ventures. The findings reveal that cooperative entrepreneurship significantly outperforms solo entrepreneurship in financial terms. Cooperative households, by substituting entrepreneurial resources, boost performance through resource sharing. Furthermore, cooperation enhances productivity in small‐scale ventures and in regions with strong legal frameworks, driving greater entrepreneurial success. Importantly, the primary motivation for household cooperation often lies in overcoming resource constraints. This paper offers innovative insights and practical strategies to address the resource limitations faced by household enterprises.

A person-centered perspective on entrepreneurial success: combining proactive behavioral strategies across various life domains

PurposeThis study adopts a person-centered perspective to explore how entrepreneurs combine multiple proactive behavioral strategies across the business, personal and business-environment domains. We research whether certain combinations of proactive behavioral strategies (i.e. seeking resources, optimizing demands, seeking challenges, idea generation, environmental exploration, network crafting, self-insight and boundary management) relate to well-being and business performance. Moreover, we investigate whether entrepreneurs’ daily use of these strategies aligns with their general profiles.Design/methodology/approachA sample of 286 Dutch entrepreneurs participated in a general survey study. Moreover, 49 of these entrepreneurs also participated in a six-day diary study (N = 255). Latent profile analysis was used to find specific profiles and multilevel regression to understand the daily patterns.FindingsWe uncovered four meaningful profiles: the minimum business effort entrepreneurs, the solid and self-caring entrepreneurs, the needy and self-ignorant entrepreneurs and the proactive business entrepreneurs, each with different outcomes in business performance and well-being. Daily proactive behavior showed stability, suggesting a foundation deeply rooted in their general proactive behavior.Originality/valueThe study highlights the value of proactive strategies across all life domains, as profiles encompassing this combination show greater entrepreneurial success.

The Role of Sustainable Business Environment in Shaping Entrepreneurs’ Performance: Evidence from Myanmar

This study explores how Myanmar’s sustainable business environment influences entrepreneurs’ performance, focusing on the mediating role of knowledge spillover effects of foreign direct investment (KFDI). Data were gathered from 308 entrepreneurs across micro, small, medium, and large enterprises in Myanmar using online surveys via Google Forms and Microsoft Forms. The analysis employed partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) with SPSS 29 and SmartPLS 4. The results reveal that (i) the economic environment exerts a substantial positive influence on entrepreneurs’ performance; (ii) access to credit and the social environment show no discernible impact on entrepreneurs’ performance; (iii) both economic and social environments positively influence KFDI; (iv) access to credit has no effect on KFDI; and (v) KFDI partially mediates the relationship between the economic environment and entrepreneurs’ performance while fully mediating the relationship between the social environment and entrepreneurs’ performance. However, KFDI does not mediate the effect of access to credit on entrepreneurs’ performance. These findings underscore the critical role of sustainable economic and social environments in enhancing entrepreneurs’ performance and attracting foreign firms. Policymakers should prioritize these dimensions of the business environment to foster growth, maximize KFDI, and support long-term entrepreneurial success. This approach will not only ensure the economic vitality of Myanmar’s entrepreneurial ecosystem but also contribute to broader social and environmental sustainability.