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Introduction

Migrant entrepreneurship is a dynamic and multifaceted phenomenon that plays a crucial role in the economic development of host countries (David et al., 2024a; Freiling & Glinka, 2024). Here, migrant entrepreneurs contribute significantly to regional economies across various sectors, from innovative startups and knowledge- intensive to labour-intensive industries (Terstriep et al., 2023). However, ongoing research has demonstrated that the concept of migrant entrepreneurship encompasses a highly diverse group, shaped by multiple factors (Bolzani, 2024; David et al., 2022; Elo et al., 2018). These entrepreneurs originate from various countries and operate in different host nations (Barth & Zalkat, 2020; OECD, 2023a), representing distinct migration statuses—such as refugees (Harima et al., 2021), economic migrants (Kubiciel–Lodzińska et al., 2024), and/or international students (Zapata Campos, 2024; OECD, 2023b)—while bringing with them a wide array of languages, cultures, generations (Greenberg & Kurlander, 2023), religion (Dana, 2021) and genders (Aman et al., 2024; Gunderson & Cukier, 2023), and engaging in diverse forms of business (Terstriep et al., 2023; Kloosterman et al., 1999). They also participate in multiple activities across home, host and other countries, ranging from transnational to doubly and multiply embedded ventures (Freiling, 2022; Yamamura & Lassalle, 2022), circular or return entrepreneurial activities (Bolzani, 2023; Sinatti, 2011).  

Despite these differences, migrant entrepreneurs share several common characteristics, including limited access to public funding (Desai et al., 2021; Yeshi et al., 2022), reliance on family and friendship networks during the early stages of business initiation and scaling (Sänger, 2024), and remarkable resilience in the face of failure (Terstriep et al., 2024, David et al., 2024; Williams & Krasniqi, 2018). Besides, this group continues to encounter unique challenges that hinder their full integration into local economies experiencing a sense of emotional disconnection from the broader entrepreneurial ecosystem (Bolzani & Mizzau, 2019; Neumeyer et al., 2018), which inhibits their ability to fully embed within and utilise available resources (Refai et al., 2024). This disconnectedness is further compounded by segregation, discrimination, and alienation (Teixeira et al., 2007), creating barriers not only between native and migrant entrepreneurs but also among the diverse migrant groups themselves. Moreover, there is considerable conflict when integration processes take shape (Freiling, 2024). These challenges are not solely economic but also social and emotional, reflecting broader issues of diversity, equality, and inclusion. 

The consequences of these challenges are profound, often leading to the formation of parallel business structures (David et al., 2024b), decisions to invest abroad rather than domestically, and ultimately, a detrimental impact on the domestic economy. This special issue aims to explore these challenges in depth, offering new insights into the diversity of migrant entrepreneurs and proposing strategies to foster a more inclusive entrepreneurial ecosystem (Hameed et al., 2023; Zhao et al., 2021, Theodoraki et al., 2022), with a strong emphasis on equity, power balance, and inclusion. 

Aims and Scope

This special issue seeks to enhance our understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion within the context of migrant entrepreneurship. By integrating a range of perspectives and methodologies, we aim to explore the heterogeneity of migrant entrepreneurs, considering factors such as business stage, industry, nationality, religion, language, generation, socio-economic status, migratory status (e.g., economic migrants, refugees, international students), gender, and other dimensions of difference. 

We aim to ascertain whether these diverse groups of migrant entrepreneurs encounter distinct challenges in entering and participating in entrepreneurial ecosystems, and whether there are specific ways or good practices in which they navigate the challenges of integration, resource access, and social inclusion. We welcome papers investigating the local, regional, national and international dimension of migrants’ embeddedness in entrepreneurial ecosystems and dealing with the different “pillars” of such ecosystems, such as entrepreneurial support organisations, universities, funders and investors, local authorities, incumbent companies. Given the multi-dimensional nature of these issues, we encourage prospective authors to examine both the structural barriers, the individual responses and the team/firm strategies that shape the entrepreneurial journeys of migrants. We are also interested in understanding how these diverse groups of migrant entrepreneurs coexist within ecosystems, not only with native entrepreneurs but, more importantly, among themselves. Are there instances of acceptance and collaboration, or do we see increased tendencies towards segregation and discrimination?

Finally, we encourage submissions that not only describe and analyse these phenomena but also provide novel theoretical insights and practical recommendations for policymakers, practitioners, and other stakeholders invested in supporting migrant entrepreneurship including good practices.

Suggested Topics

In the following, we propose a (partial) list of suggested topics that have a fit with the aim of the Special Issue: 

• Comparative studies on the experiences of different migrant groups (e.g., refugees, labour migrants, international students) within entrepreneurial ecosystems. 
• The intersectional impact of nationality, religion, language, socio-economic status, education, generation, gender, and other dimensions of diversity on entrepreneurial success and challenges. 
• Investigation into how diverse groups of migrant entrepreneurs coexist and collaborate within entrepreneurial ecosystems, and conditions for success in mutual support among different migrant groups. 
• Analyses of the antecedents, processes and outcomes of any conflicts and social tensions linked to the integration of migrant entrepreneurs, and practices of coping with such situations from the viewpoint of the involved stakeholders. 
• Analysis of the (unintended) segregation and discrimination practices faced by migrant entrepreneurs, both from native entrepreneurs and within diverse migrant groups, from stakeholders involved in entrepreneurial ecosystems, together with their consequences. 
• Analysis of policies and practices that facilitate or hinder access to public funding, networks, information, and support systems for migrant entrepreneurs. 
• The experience of equity and inclusion by migrant entrepreneurs across different industries, in both innovative and traditional sectors. 
• Comparative analysis of equity and inclusion for migrant entrepreneurship across different countries or regions to identify common challenges and best practices including power relations, power disbalance.  
• Exploration of the emotional and psychological dimension of inclusion and equity experienced by migrant entrepreneurs and its effects on business survival and performance. 

Guest Editors

Alexandra David 
Westphalian University of Applied Sciences, Germany 
[email protected]

Judith Terstriep  
Westphalian University of Applied Sciences, Germany 
[email protected]

Jörg Freiling 
University of Bremen, LEMEX 
[email protected]

Daniela Bolzani 
University of Bologna 
[email protected]
 
Maria Elo 
University of Southern Denmark 
[email protected] 

Sabina Kubiciel-Lodzińska 
Opole University of Technology, Poland 
[email protected] 
 

Submissions Information

Submissions are made using ScholarOne Manuscripts. Registration and access are available by clicking the button below.  
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Author guidelines must be strictly followed.
Authors should select (from the drop-down menu) the special issue title at the appropriate step in the submission process, i.e. in response to “Please select the issue you are submitting to”. 
Submitted articles must not have been previously published, nor should they be under consideration for publication anywhere else, while under review for this journal.

Key Deadlines

Opening date for manuscripts submissions: 1 December 2024
Closing date for manuscripts submission: 1 August 2025