How entrepreneurial ecosystems take form: evidence from social impact initiatives in Seattle

Journal article

This research uses insights from field theory to explore the early moments of how entrepreneurial ecosystems form through everyday interactions. We examine the cultural-cognitive and material micro-dynamics of activities occurring in support of social impact entrepreneurs and businesses from 2000 to 2014 in the Seattle WA region using archival and interview data sources. The pattern of results about what actors do and how interactions change over time supports a two-period model of ecosystem formation where initial distributed and disparate activity undergoes a phase transition to coalesce into a more coordinated and integrated social order. The findings point to endogenous sources of structuring, including language and interaction, rather than exogenous sources such as government action or instrumental policy goals.

Authors: Thompson, T; Purdy, J; Ventresca, M

• Publication status: Published
• Peer review status: Peer reviewed
• Publisher: Wiley
• Journal: Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal
• Volume: 12
• Issue: 1
• Pages: 96-116
• Publication date: 2018-01-30
• Acceptance date: 2017-04-01
• DOI: 10.1002/sej.1285
• EISSN: 1932-443X
• ISSN: 1932-4391
• Keywords: qualitative research methods; ecosystem formation; entrepreneurial ecosystems; social impact business; field theory