Judith Terstriep

Purpose: Power relations within entrepreneurial ecosystems (EEs) are crucial for fostering cooperation among entrepreneurs and ecosystem actors and driving local development and economic advancement. This study examines the social position and marginality of migrant entrepreneurs, a significant yet often overlooked group in traditional entrepreneurship discourse. It explores how power relations and differences manifest in migrant entrepreneurs' founding processes and how they address emerging challenges. Design/methodology/approach: This qualitative case study uses field and practice angles on power theory to explore the marginalisation of migrant entrepreneurs in a German Ruhr Area city with a history of immigration. Pairing deductive and inductive principles, the analysis of 23 in-depth interviews explores the many faces of power for migrant entrepreneurs and how they are dealt with. Findings: The study identifies three key areas – knowledge, language competence and network affiliation – that shape power relations for marginalised entrepreneurs and influence their perceptions, behaviours and outcomes. Addressing these areas is crucial for creating more equitable and sustainable EEs. Despite structural disadvantages, migrant entrepreneurs use their agency to bridge divides and balance power differences within EEs. Originality/value: This research develops a power- and hierarchy-informed lens for entrepreneurship and EEs, drawing on existing power theories from other social science disciplines. It highlights the significance of studying “socio-cultural outsiders” in entrepreneurship and reveals how friction, imbalance and dysfunctionality arise within EEs as inherently social and stratified contexts and how minoritised entrepreneurs cope.

This article explores the importance of belongingness in migrant entrepreneurs' (MEs) engagement within entrepreneurial ecosystems (EEs), focusing on emotional and social dimensions often overlooked in favour of structural factors. Through two case studies in Germany's Ruhr area, the article demonstrates how a strong sense of belonging enhances resilience, trust and social capital, essential for business success. The experiences of two MEs, Ilyas and Elif, illustrate belongingness as a catalyst for connectedness and embeddedness, enabling access to networks and resources while countering discrimination. The study suggests that policy frameworks should acknowledge and support the emotional and relational aspects of MEs' integration in EEs. Emphasising informal support systems, community engagement and tailored interventions could help overcome structural barriers and foster more inclusive ecosystems. Future research should further examine these dynamics across diverse cultural and geographical contexts to offer a more comprehensive understanding of MEs' entrepreneurial trajectories.

This article explores the complex relationship between migrant entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial ecosystems (EEs) with a focus on how migrant entrepreneurs are (dis-)connected (from) to EEs. Based on 23 semi-structured interviews with migrant entrepreneurs (MEs) in a German city, the research uncovers subtle intricacies in this relationship. Beyond the expected connectedness, data surprisingly suggests that MEs face disconnectedness in four forms: entrenched segregation, resource deficits, lack of representation and alienation. Furthermore, the study scrutinises causal relationships, highlighting how discrimination as a fifth form perpetuates these elements of disconnectedness. This exploration enriches theoretical understanding by providing a nuanced view of (dis-)connectedness of MEs within EEs and related factors, including causal relationships. The findings advocate for addressing disparities in entrepreneurial landscapes to create sensible environments for MEs and their entrepreneurial avenues.

The war in Ukraine renewed interest in the refugee plight. In February 2022, the number of Ukrainian refugees exceeded that of refugees from other nationalities by almost four times. Against this background, refugee entrepreneurship continues to be discussed as a crucial instrument for labour market integration, enabling an economically self-determined life. There are calls for a Europe-wide support infrastructure in the form of entrepreneurial ecosystems. In line with these calls, our research shows that regional context plays a significant role in establishing refugee entrepreneurship support infrastructures. This chapter discusses refugee entrepreneurship as a multifaceted phenomenon in different socio-spatial contexts and emphasises the reciprocal interactions between regional context and refugee entrepreneurship. Further, it underscores the importance of programmes and targeted initiatives that bridge misalignments and connect refugee entrepreneurs to other ecosystem actors and opportunities.

Multifocal practices allow transnational migrant entrepreneurs (TMEs) to access extended opportunity structures in diverse entrepreneurial ecosystems (EEs). National and regional regulations, customer relations, market demands, networks, and country‐specific entrepreneurial statuses facilitate the strategic coupling of informal and formal business structures toward hybrid business models. However, “how” TMEs innovate and develop approaches to build from informal, formal business models in parallel across national borders remains largely underexplored. Our multiple case study presents three Polish–German TMEs who operate on a multifocal basis in different ecosystems. The longitude study of these entrepreneurs illustrates how transnational migrant businesses can change the owners' power dynamics, habitus, and feelings of belonging while counteracting social exclusion and self‐discrimination. Our study contributes to the theoretical debate by illuminating the pathway between informality and formality facilitated by migrant entrepreneurs' transnational business models and their multifocal practices, possibly turning into transnational embeddedness in two or more ecosystems.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, research is swiftly progressing to comprehend the impact on solo self-employed individuals and microenterprises. Although there is unanimous agreement within the literature that this unprecedented event has profoundly affected businesses globally, evidence regarding these impacts’ precise direction and extent remains inconclusive. A limited understanding exists concerning the various intersecting factors influencing entrepreneurs’ affectedness and coping strategies. This article employs qualitative interview data to examine how entrepreneurs from knowledge-intensive services and retail and hospitality sectors in Germany experienced, navigated and responded to the multifaceted challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Results reveal that factors at the intersection of sector affiliation, gender, migrant background and care/parental responsibilities determine entrepreneurs’ affectedness and shape their coping strategies, including using state aid programmes. Highlighting distinct combinations of intersecting factors, we contribute to advancing the ongoing scholarly discourse on crisis dynamics and intersectionality in entrepreneurship and policymaking.

Objective: The objective of the article is to assess whether in Poland, Ukrainian war refugees exhibit more entrepreneurial intention than Ukrainian pre-war economic migrants. Research Design & Methods: This article uses data from a panel study conducted in 2022 and 2023, encompassing 357 (1st wave) and 481 Ukrainian war refugees and pre-war economic migrants (2nd wave). The study employed decision tree analysis with the CRT (classification and regression) method on the 2023 sample data for data analysis. Findings: Research findings indicate that regarding Ukrainians’ entrepreneurial intention, their gender rather than the specific nature of their migration status holds significance – whether as an economic migrant or a refugee. Implications & Recommendations: We suggest that intersectionality and the associated gender gap require close examination rather than setting the sole focus on the migrant or refugee status. An increased emphasis should lie on providing entrepreneurship guidance that is human-centred and, in so doing, female- and family-centred. Contribution & Value Added: Prior research has not thoroughly explored the differences between pre-war economic migrants and refugees regarding their engagement in entrepreneurship and their achievements within this domain. This article taps into this research gap by conducting a comparative analysis of two distinct cohorts of migrants from Ukraine in Poland.

Disrupted identities of inhabitants in old industrial and other less developed regions are seldom an issue of regional policies, even though people’s attachment to their residential environment can influence territorial development. It is the aim of this paper to assess the reach of regional policy to strengthen place attachment and the place identity of inhabitants. We do so by analysing the development and implementation process of the novel participatory and place-sensitive policy programme #heimatruhr. The programme aimed to renew residents’ attachment and emotional bonds with their neighbourhoods in the old industrial region Ruhr in Germany through arts and social innovation-based initiatives. It was designed in an experimental process and followed an open, co-creative, and transformative proceeding. The key to place-sensitivity was the integration of participants during the entire programme development and implementation from the early phases onwards. Our findings suggest that supporting people-centred place-making practices as part of regional policies can positively influence residents’ place attachment. Therefore, place-based policies should not only target local economic development but also include an explicit people-centred perspective.