Navigating the digital shift: Exploring the online dimension in entrepreneurial ecosystems

This study explores the increasingly important online dimension of entrepreneurial ecosystems (EEs), an area that has received little research attention despite its increasing relevance in today’s digital world. Focusing on the context of a university incubator, we aim to understand how integrating online elements into entrepreneurship support affects new venture development. Through semistructured interviews with entrepreneurs, our findings indicate that online elements facilitate access to vital resources and networks, yet they can also create new challenges related to diminished interpersonal interactions. This research provides insights for practitioners and policy makers, suggesting that effective support for entrepreneurship should balance online engagement with opportunities for personal connection. This study extends the discussion on the virtualization and digitalization of EEs and its implications for fostering entrepreneurial growth and ecosystem resilience.