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Theorizing typologies of entrepreneurial ecosystems
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DOI：10.1007/s11187-026-01257-w.png)
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Abstract
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This study develops a theory-driven typology of entrepreneurial ecosystems (EEs) to better understand heterogeneity in entrepreneurial activity across places. We identify four ecosystem types — embedding, emerging, exploring, and extreme growth — based on two dimensions: structural thickness (the interdependency and density of connections among ecosystem actors and institutional factors) and locus of focus (the spatial orientation of ecosystem actors). Together, these dimensions provide a conceptual framework for understanding why ecosystems that may appear similar in their ecosystem attributes can nevertheless generate different forms of productive entrepreneurship. In addition, we provide an illustrative empirical application using data from 748 cities across 102 countries that approximates the typology and explores how ecosystem attributes are associated with the likelihood that a city exhibits a given type. By theorizing EE heterogeneity beyond resource- or scale-based perspectives, we advance research on the structural and spatial dimensions of entrepreneurship and provide a foundation for future comparative and longitudinal research. Entrepreneurial ecosystems (EEs) do not just differ in size and scale. This study introduces four ecosystem types — embedding, emerging, exploring, and extreme growth — based on how strongly local actors and institutions are connected and whether entrepreneurial activity is locally or globally oriented. Rather than assuming ecosystems differ only in size or resources, the typology shows how connections among actors and spatial orientation shape ecosystem differences. In addition, we provide an illustrative empirical application using data from 748 cities across 102 countries to approximate these types and explore how ecosystem attributes relate to them. The key implication is that policymakers should avoid one-size-fits-all approaches and instead tailor policies to the specific structural and spatial characteristics of their local EE, because ignoring these dimensions of heterogeneity can lead to ineffective policies.
Keywords:
Entrepreneurial ecosystem typologies
Productive entrepreneurship
Heterogeneity
Multilevel analysis
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