Knowledge-Related Resourcefulness for Growth in Weak Entrepreneurial Ecosystems

Hans Rawhouser, Chris Sutter, Natalie Holzaepfel, Michael Conger and Scott L. Newbert

Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 2025, vol. 49, issue 1, 159-195

Abstract: Entrepreneurs need to access knowledge to grow, but weak entrepreneurial ecosystems tend to lack the types of knowledge that foster venture growth. To explore how entrepreneurs can act resourcefully as they overcome local ecosystem deficiencies in efforts to grow, we conducted 78 interviews with growth-oriented entrepreneurs in Central America. These entrepreneurs, perceiving that their ecosystem was subordinate to stronger ecosystems, challenged local knowledge, prompting them to engage in knowledge-related resourcefulness, which involves reorienting network targets (resourceful cognition) and assembling network tie proxies (resourceful behavior), to leverage benefits from both local and distant entrepreneurial ecosystems in pursuit of steady organic growth.

Keywords: entrepreneurial resourcefulness; entrepreneurial ecosystems; entrepreneurial growth; knowledge (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2025
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Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:sae:entthe:v:49:y:2025:i:1:p:159-195

DOI: 10.1177/10422587241259393

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