Digital entrepreneurial ecosystem: the role of the sharing economy in driving innovation

This study examines the role of the sharing economy within digital entrepreneurial ecosystems (DEEs) and its influence on fostering opportunities for digital entrepreneurs. By exploring the complex interactions among businesses, technologies, and markets, the paper highlights how DEEs facilitate the adoption of sharing economy-related digital business practices. Using a qualitative exploratory approach, we conducted open-ended interviews with 88 business managers actively engaged in the sharing economy across various sectors. Thematic analysis was employed to uncover the key challenges and opportunities businesses face in integrating digital transformation processes (DTP) into their strategies. The research introduces key frameworks, including Sharing Economy Digital Infrastructure Governance (SEDIG), Sharing Economy Digital User Citizenship (SEDUC), and Sharing Economy Digital Marketplace (SEDM), to categorize ecosystem players and analyse their collaborative efforts in supporting digital entrepreneurship. Findings emphasize the need for greater consistency in SEDIG approaches across regulatory bodies, as regional disparities in governance create uncertainty for entrepreneurs. The study also underscores the long-term benefits of responsible operations and technological investments, despite initial costs, and calls for policy interventions to address ongoing entrepreneurial ecosystem challenges.