Understanding Digital Entrepreneurship Ecosystems in Emerging Economies: Evidence from Government and Industry Reports
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58258/dibi.pmqry843Keywords:
Digital entrepreneurship, Digital entrepreneurship ecosystem, Digital business innovation, Qualitative content analysis, Emerging economiesAbstract
Digital entrepreneurship has become a key driver of business innovation and economic transformation in emerging economies. However, existing studies have primarily focused on entrepreneurs or firms, providing limited understanding of how broader institutional environments collectively shape digital entrepreneurship ecosystems. This study aims to explore the characteristics of digital entrepreneurship ecosystems in emerging economies by synthesizing evidence from government and industry reports. A qualitative research design employing Qualitative Content Analysis (QCA) was adopted to systematically examine publicly available documents published by government agencies, international organizations, and industry institutions between 2020 and 2025. The analysis identified five major ecosystem dimensions: institutional support, digital infrastructure, human capital development, innovation networks, and financial accessibility. These dimensions interact dynamically to facilitate digital business innovation and create an enabling environment for entrepreneurial growth. The findings suggest that digital entrepreneurship is not solely influenced by individual entrepreneurial capabilities but is fundamentally embedded within an interconnected ecosystem involving governments, educational institutions, financial organizations, technology providers, and innovation intermediaries. This study contributes to the literature by extending digital entrepreneurship research from a firm-level perspective toward an ecosystem-based perspective and by demonstrating the value of qualitative content analysis of secondary documentary sources for theory development. The proposed conceptual framework provides practical insights for policymakers and business support organizations seeking to strengthen digital entrepreneurship ecosystems and promote sustainable digital business innovation in emerging economies.References
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Copyright (c) 2026 Adi Purmanto, Dian Aulia Mutia Sari, Salman Alam (Author)
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