Nonprofit · Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Research
From Surviving to Thriving.
A case study on Puerto Rican entrepreneurship.
- Publisher
- Foundation for Puerto Rico, with support from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation.
- Context
- Entrepreneurship is an integral part of the economic resilience of communities, regions and local economies. However, Puerto Rico's long recession compounded with the calamities of the hurricanes, earthquakes and the COVID-19 pandemic has forced entrepreneurs on the Island into an endless cycle of disaster recovery. To support existing entrepreneurs and encourage new ones, Puerto Rico needs a cohesive approach to facilitate the creation of hopeful ventures that can endure disasters and prosper.
- Purpose
- This case study provides entrepreneurship support organizations (ESOs) an overview of Puerto Rico's entrepreneurial ecosystem and the importance of well-connected networks to aid in the development of new ventures.
- Deliverables
- The published case study itself, plus an accompanying toolkit for ESOs to better serve entrepreneurs in the wake of a disaster and beyond — actionable, coordinated strategies for how to best leverage organizational resources and deploy effective programs amid the recovery process that can spur equitable access opportunities.
- Covers
- An economic overview of the Puerto Rican experience, resilience as a dynamic and continuous process, the link between entrepreneurs' adaptive capacity and available resources, the importance of networks and ecosystems in a crisis, and the seven pillars of an innovative ecosystem (networks, access to capital, culture, infrastructure, skilled talent, regulations, and market potential).