The legitimacy of corporate accelerators within entrepreneurial ecosystems: perceptions of supported entrepreneurs

Constance Banc () and Karim Messeghem ()
Additional contact information
Constance Banc: Labex Entreprendre - UM - Université de Montpellier, MRM - Montpellier Research in Management - UM1 - Université Montpellier 1 - UPVM - Université Paul-Valéry - Montpellier 3 - UM2 - Université Montpellier 2 - Sciences et Techniques - UPVD - Université de Perpignan Via Domitia - Groupe Sup de Co Montpellier (GSCM) - Montpellier Business School
Karim Messeghem: MRM - Montpellier Research in Management - UPVD - Université de Perpignan Via Domitia - UM - Université de Montpellier, UM - Université de Montpellier

Post-Print from HAL

Abstract: Entrepreneurial ecosystems (EEs) are changing as funding for traditional support structures is reduced and large corporations are running corporate accelerators (CAs). These new support organizations are struggling to survive and address challenges of legitimacy. However, research on EEs has not yet investigated the conditions of their existence from an ecosystemic perspective. Drawing on neoinstitutional theory (NIT) and the legitimacy-as-perception approach, we introduce the concept of entrepreneurial ecosystemic legitimacy (EEL) and explore supported entrepreneurs' perceptions. Empirically, we conduct a single case study of a large French group (case) and 9 of its CAs in 9 EEs (subcases) with 36 interviews and 1 focus group. The results show that supported entrepreneurs build their perceptions of EEL in 3 dimensions: utilitarian, existential and socioeconomic. These dimensions are linked to 3 institutional logics that structure the organizational field of EEs. This research contributes to the theorization of EEs by highlighting the microfoundations of legitimacy perceptions and by developing a new framework of the EEL of CAs as perceived by supported entrepreneurs. From a managerial perspective, this research outlines a set of strategic actions for CAs and public authorities.

Date: 2025-03-29
References: Add references at CitEc
Citations:

Published in Entrepreneurship and Regional Development, 2025, 37 (9-10), pp.1416-1438. ⟨10.1080/08985626.2025.2485271⟩

There are no downloads for this item, see the EconPapers FAQ for hints about obtaining it.

Related works:
This item may be available elsewhere in EconPapers: Search for items with the same title.

Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text

Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:hal:journl:hal-05438824

DOI: 10.1080/08985626.2025.2485271

Access Statistics for this paper

More papers in Post-Print from HAL
Bibliographic data for series maintained by CCSD ().