Between local buzz and global pipelines: how international actors promote sustainable entrepreneurship in Bogotá, Colombia

Purpose The paper aims to clarify the role and interactions of international actors in promoting sustainable entrepreneurship. It proposes that glocal dimensions are increasingly important for start-up support. The study aims to expand the domain of sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems by including a broader geographical dimension of proximity relations than is normally found in the entrepreneurial ecosystems literature. Design/methodology/approach The paper opted for an exploratory case study using 23 semi-structured interviews and a naturalistic observation at an event. The data were complemented by documentary analysis, including policy documents such as program descriptions of internal processes, websites or expert reports. Findings The paper provides empirical insights about how interactions in sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems are formed around networks that can expand the geographical proximity dimensions. It suggests that international actors are increasingly important for developing sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems and should receive more attention from local public actors. Research limitations/implications Due to the chosen research approach and the geographical limitation of the case study presented, the research results may lack generalizability. Therefore, researchers are encouraged to investigate the proposed proposition further, i.e. in other regional contexts. Practical implications The paper includes implications for the development of sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystems and for supporting sustainable entrepreneurs more effectively, especially in the context of a developing country. Originality/value This paper fulfils an identified need to study how interactions in entrepreneurial ecosystems develop and how the international dimension impacts entrepreneurial ecosystems.