Entrepreneurial ecosystems thrive on the contributions of diverse actors, among whom entrepreneurs play a pivotal role. Interestingly, previous research on entrepreneurial ecosystems has remained silent on how to encourage entrepreneurs to “give back” to their ecosystem. This study probes the phenomenon of downward causation, aiming to unravel the motivations and mechanisms driving entrepreneurs to actively contribute to the evolution and stability of their ecosystems. Drawing on qualitative analyses of 32 in-depth interviews with startup entrepreneurs in Germany, our findings unveil the characteristics of contribution behavior and highlight the heterogeneous nature of entrepreneurs’ motivations. Reciprocal motivation emerges as a central driver, influenced by a complex interplay of interactions. Experiences with ecosystem actors shape diverse interpersonal relationships, impacting entrepreneurs’ gratitude and fostering a sense of affiliation. Individual characteristics, such as entrepreneurial passion and altruism, along with the situational context, can reinforce or constrain this motivation. These insights converge into a dynamic model, enhancing theoretical foundations of downward causation within entrepreneurial ecosystems.

Entrepreneurs benefit significantly from resources within their entrepreneurial ecosystems, but under what conditions do they decide to contribute back (a mechanism called downward causation) and thus revitalize the ecosystem they originated from? Drawing on social exchange theory, we develop a set of drivers of such contribution behaviors and test their influence through a metric-conjoint experiment involving 234 entrepreneurs. Our findings confirm the impact of social exchange theory constructs on entrepreneurs' contribution behaviors and highlight the moderating effects of personal traits—in particular, self-interest and other-orientation—on these dynamics. The key insight of our study is that social exchange structures and entrepreneurs’ relational contexts shape contribution behaviors that underlie the microfoundational dynamics of ecosystem development. This investigation underscores the importance of social structures within entrepreneurial ecosystems and enhances our understanding of the micro-level mechanisms that sustain ecosystem health and development. Furthermore, it offers practical insights that transcend traditional policy approaches, focusing on tailored strategies for cultivating entrepreneur-centered ecosystems.

The nature of corporate communication has undergone significant changes in recent years. One notable trend is the increasing use of employees as brand ambassadors, as evidenced by the proliferation of corporate influencer programs. However, a critical question is often overlooked: under what conditions are employees genuinely willing to participate in such programs? This predicament poses a substantial challenge to companies, who must devise compelling strategies to attract and engage employees in these initiatives. This study aims to address this gap by examining the critical factors influencing employee participation in corporate influencer programs on LinkedIn through a conjoint analysis. More than 100 employees, representing a range of company types from start-ups to large corporations, were surveyed. The findings reveal that a modern and actively cultivated corporate culture is essential for employees, while external recognition and occasional support (such as social media guidelines) play only a minor role.

MöglichMacher²³ – Bayerischer Hochschulpreis Entrepreneurship ist eine Auszeichnung, die das BayZiel – Bayerisches Zentrum für Innovative Lehre gemeinsam mit dem Bayerischen Staatsministerium für Wissenschaft und Kunst, der vbw - Vereinigung der Bayerischen Wirtschaft e.V. und Hochschule Bayern e.V. am 19.9.2023 zum ersten Mal vergeben hat.

Damit der Wirtschaftsstandort Bayern weiter erfolgreich bleibt, braucht er Innovationskraft und Gründergeist. Insbesondere Hochschulen spielen in Bezug auf die Förderung und Vermittlung unternehmerischer Kompetenzen und beim Gründungsgeschehen eine zentrale Rolle. Das Bayerische Hochschulinnovationsgesetz hebt die Bedeutung der Unternehmensgründung an Hochschulen hervor und fördert Entrepreneurship durch verschiedene Maßnahmen wie Gründungszentren und Gründungsfreisemester für Professorinnen und Professoren. Mit dem erstmalig ausgelobten Hochschulpreis MöglichMacher werden besondere Leistungen ausgezeichnet, die sich mit hohem Engagement für die Stärkung des unternehmerischen Denkens bei Studierenden und die Förderung des aktiven Gründungsgeschehen an den Hochschulen einsetzen.

Das Team der Gründungsberatung der Hochschule Ansbach, Prof. Dr. Carolin Durst und Johannes Hähnlein, beeindruckte die Jury mit seinen innovativen Ansätzen und den in nur zwei Jahren erzielten Erfolgen. Diese umfassen nicht nur erste spannende Ausgründungen und Startups, sondern insbesondere einen spürbar gestiegenen Gründungsgeist im Umfeld der Hochschule Ansbach.

Die Gründungsberatung der Hochschule Ansbach wurde hierfür mit dem 2. Platz ausgezeichnet sowie mit einem Preisgeld in Höhe von 10.000 € honoriert und nimmt damit laut Jury eine Vorbildrolle für ganz Bayern ein.

Current research on entrepreneurial ecosystems focuses on conceptual frameworks as well as the characteristics of individual elements and actors. Yet, ecosystems require the contributions of different actors (such as successful entrepreneurs) to become self-sustaining. This study sheds light on the questions of how and why entrepreneurs contribute to the development and reproduction of their entrepreneurial ecosystem. Applying a qualitative, inductive approach, a data sample of 32 semi-structured interviews with startup entrepreneurs from Germany was examined. The analysis reveals, that, amongst the personal traits of entrepreneurial passion and altruism, a perceived affiliation, reciprocity with and gratitude to the entrepreneurial ecosystem and its actors, influenced by antecedent experiences and relationships, are the core predictors for contribution activities such as mentoring, peering, or passing on experiences. These empirical insights are synthesized in a dynamic model, which adds further theoretical grounding to research on causal mechanisms and microfoundations in entrepreneurial ecosystems.

Entrepreneurship in the form of business foundations, especially start-ups, drives progress and innovation on many levels. They are currently one of the critical drivers of economic prosperity in our society. More and more economic policy measures are aimed at promoting just this. However, strong regional differences are observed in start-up activity. Thus, the support of start-ups and the development of so-called entrepreneurial ecosystems are also playing an increasingly important role in economic and regional policy. It is necessary to look at each region singularly, to identify particularities, and to determine the needs of regional actors to derive suitable measures for establishing such an ecosystem. This article examines an exemplary region for specific determinants by applying a start-up ecosystem model. Strengths, weaknesses, and potentials of the business location about its framework conditions for start-ups are identified in two group interviews (founders and supporting institutions). The results show that the numerous interactions of a start-up ecosystem are not sufficiently targeted and efficiently managed in the current structures and that relevant actors perceive the effectiveness of ecosystem elements and support measures in a differentiated manner. The study was able to provide insights for future start-up and innovation policy measures and interventions in the region studied and are thus intended to serve methodologically as a role model for the analysis of other regional start-up ecosystems.