Shaping futures wisely: Integrating futures literacy with entrepreneurship

This conceptual research investigates the intersection of futures literacy (FL) and entrepreneurship – two concepts with significant potential on how futures are shaped. FL equips individuals to anticipate and engage with uncertainty, while entrepreneurs remain key agents of change who increasingly require new competencies to create value responsibly in complex environments. This research explores where and how FL and entrepreneurship intersect, drawing on a literature review and expert interviews. Despite FL’s conceptual ambiguity, the findings reveal clear intersections with entrepreneurship on both theoretical and practical levels. The proposed framework of ‘futures-literate entrepreneurship’ integrates FL and entrepreneurship at the level of individual competencies, highlighting where they intersect and complement each other, as well as the potentials arising from their combination. This includes the empowerment to actively shape futures, greater adaptability and resilience in the face of uncertainty, the capacity for radical innovation, more robust business models, and human-centered approaches that support ethical and collaborative future-making. The contribution of this research is two-sided: It outlines not only how FL can enhance entrepreneurial practice, particularly for sustainable entrepreneurship, but also adds to the conception of FL from an entrepreneurship perspective. By identifying barriers and opportunities for their integration, the study encourages cross-disciplinary dialogue across the fields of futures studies and entrepreneurship. The proposed framework aims to inspire future empirical research on how combined FL and entrepreneurial competencies can help individuals navigate and shape uncertain futures more wisely. • Explores intersections between futures literacy and entrepreneurship. • Proposes a conceptual framework for 'futures-literate entrepreneurship'. • Identifies competencies to navigate uncertainty and shape futures responsibly. • Shows potentials of integrating FL and entrepreneurship for sustainable futures. • Encourages future research across the fields of futures studies and entrepreneurship.