Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations Commons^™

Capturing Tradition: The Business, Branding, And Personal Identity Of Senior Portraits In The Modern South, Xenia R. Minton

Honors Theses

The rise of college students starting photography businesses, particularly in graduation portraits, has transformed the creative and entrepreneurial landscape in the South. This thesis explores the senior portrait culture at the University of Mississippi, analyzing its rapid growth through the perspectives of photographers and academic experts in Southern Studies. Grounded in eight years of experience as a photographer, this study examines the evolution of the industry, business strategies, and cultural significance. Through interviews with seasoned senior portrait photographers and Southern Studies professors, this research investigates how regional traditions, social media, and consumer expectations have shaped the profession. By analyzing these …

Capital Formation, The Sec, And Accredited Investors, Neal F. Newman, Lawrence J. Trautman, Brian Elzweig

Faculty Scholarship

Protecting the investing public, while simultaneously facilitating the efficient flow of capital needed by all new and growing businesses continues as a primary responsibility of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). Enhancing the capital formation process is a necessary step in the creation of jobs and growth of any economy. Central to the SEC’s regulatory schematic is the proposition that some particularly sophisticated and wealthy investors require less protection than those with less knowledge, experience, and resources. During December 2023, for just the third time, the SEC staff issued a report examining the status of the natural person accredited …

A Mother’S Work At Motherswork, Sharon Wong

Asian Management Insights

Sharon Wong turned a desire for fashionable maternity wear into a journey with women into motherhood. Premium mother and baby products retailer Motherswork started off as a maternity fashion label that founder Sharon Wong created to dress herself professionally while pregnant with her first child. Twenty-five years on, the company hires over 160 employees in stores across China, Vietnam, and its home market of Singapore. Following Motherswork’s acquisition by parent-tech company The Parentinc, the mother of three looks back at how the business which she dubs “a hobby” became synonymous with premium mother and baby products, and how “having it …

Enhancing Stakeholder Collaboration In Indonesian-Owned Businesses In The United States, Renny Yulistia Adystiani

Harrisburg University Dissertations and Theses

This research examines stakeholder engagement strategies among Indonesian restaurant owners in the United States, focusing on their operational success and business sustainability. Using a qualitative methodology, the study conducted semi-structured interviews with five purposively selected restaurant owners to investigate how they integrate stakeholder interests into business strategies, leverage government support, and adapt engagement practices across different sectors. The findings reveal three key challenges: insufficient frameworks for integrating stakeholder interests with business strategies, inadequate government support mechanisms, and inconsistent stakeholder engagement practices. The study identified successful informal approaches to stakeholder management, particularly in balancing cultural authenticity with market demands. However, it …

Bolstering The Startup Sector In Palestine And Its Potential Impact On Public Finance, Rabeh Morrar, Rand Jibril

An-Najah University Journal for Research - B (Humanities)

Objective: This study aimed to analyze of the ecosystem surrounding startups in Palestine in general, with a particular focus on public finance; specifically, how public authorities can enhance the regulatory framework and adopt incentive policies for startups and entrepreneurship to create a positive long-term impact on both the overall economy and public finance. Methodology: The study's methodology primarily involved conducting in-depth interviews with a sample of all stakeholders related to the Palestinian startup ecosystem. This included government entities, relevant public bodies, startups, entrepreneurs, accelerators, incubators, venture capital funds, universities, innovation centers, and legal entities. Results: The study reached several important …

A Different Risk-Return Relationship, Aydin Selim Oksoy, Matthew R. Farrell, Shaomin Li

Management Faculty Publications

We challenge the widely accepted premise that the valuation of an early-stage firm is simply the capital invested (USD) divided by the equity received (%). Instead, we argue that this calculation determines the break-even point for the investor; for example, investing USD 1.0 in exchange for a 10% equity sets a firm-level free cash flow target of USD 10.0, resulting in a 0% return for the investor. The design of our study is that of a descriptive analysis of the phenomenon, based on three assumptions: that angel investing is a two-issue negotiation, that negotiation positions are communicated sequentially from capital …

The Entrepreneurs Handbook: A Practical Meets Academic Guide For Both Current And Budding Business Owners And Risk Takers, Howard J. Friedman

Open Educational Resources

This work has been created with the intention of being used as a practical guide for the budding entrepreneur. The concepts are presented to optimize creative thinking and find a path to a fully realized business. From idea through funding, the company life cycle. This work is meant to provide the reader with all the materials that will be needed to make a real-world decision. Effort has been made to combine academic and practical data to offer a straightforward guide to finding, funding, and realizing your dream.

Effect Of The Development Of Social Networks On Expansion Of Social Entrepreneurship: Moderating Role Of Digital Technology Infrastructure And Social Norms, Mahdi Maskani, Reza Mohammadkazemi, Fargol Saberi Qomi

AMTP Proceedings 2025

In today's era, social networks, which are an effective tool in promoting ideas and innovations, have met with global acceptance and popularity. The communication that is formed between people in society through them can be the basis for ideas and opportunities for social entrepreneurship and voluntary social activities, and it is expected that this global platform will be the basis for the expansion of social entrepreneurship. The study aimed to examine the effect of the development of social networks on the expansion of social entrepreneurship by explaining the moderating role of digital technology infrastructure and social norms. The findings revealed …

Harvest Gold Distillery, Alexis Mackey, Alexander Grecco, Cole Smith, Maggie Patterson, Blake Benko

Williams Honors College, Honors Research Projects

The goal of our research project is to establish and grow Harvest Gold Distillery: a corn-based liquor distillery in Ohio that aims to produce and sell high-quality spirits while offering unique services that enhance outreach in the community. The motivation behind this business venture is rooted in one of our team member’s family traditions; Alex’s family makes homemade liquors, which has fostered an in-depth understanding of the distillation process. Alex’s firsthand experience with the craft provides a solid foundation, yet we recognize that starting a distillery involves significant challenges and requires thorough research in several functions of business. This project …

The Dynamic Integration Of National Culture In Organizational Structure For Entrepreneurial Success, Qianyu Lim

Senior Honors Theses

The impact of culture on management decisions has been heavily researched and discussed in the academic setting. However, the tools and frameworks currently applied in cultural studies present a static version of culture at a certain point in time. As entrepreneurship and its counterpart, intrapreneurship, arise to help create competitive advantage in a quickly shifting economic market, these points raise the question of the opportunity surrounding the consideration of culture as a living model in an equally dynamic business environment. To do so, a reiterative version of Bain’s Structure-Conduct-Performance paradigm will be used to illustrate the impact of culture in …

Impact Of State-Level Family Policies On Female Labor Force Participation And Entrepreneurship, Kathryn Staczek Rudloff

Theses and Dissertations

This dissertation aims to investigate the impact of state-level family policies on women's participation in the labor force in the United States, focusing specifically on the rise of self-employment and solopreneurship among women. The research seeks to answer the following question: "How do family policies at the state level impact participation of American women in the labor force?"

The study utilized a convergent parallel mixed-methods design. A composite index of state level family policies was created to conduct cross-sectional exploratory data analysis of female labor force participation. Additionally, a qualitative phenomenological study of solopreneurs provided a deeper understanding of the …

Meta-Entrepreneurship: An Analysis Theory On Integrating Generative Ai, Agentic Ai, And Metaverse For Entrepreneurship, Yingying Zhang, Keng Siau

Research Collection School Of Computing and Information Systems

Metaverse entrepreneurship has emerged as an innovative topic alongside the development of generative AI, agentic AI and metaverse. This study conceptualizes meta-entrepreneurship as a novel form of entrepreneurial activity that enables value creation within virtual and physical realms and proposes an analytical theoretical framework based on a systematic literature review, observations, and focus group study. Our framework is structured around three layers (infrastructure, content, and experience) and two domains (metaverse-based operational domain and AI-based production domain), aims to conceptualize “what is meta-entrepreneurship” and identify new possibilities. The research highlights the multifaceted impact of meta-entrepreneurship on individuals, corporations, industries, societies, and …

Liberalizing Home-Based Business, Sumit Agarwal, Tien Foo Sing, Changcheng Song, Jian Zhang

Research Collection Lee Kong Chian School Of Business

Working at home benefits entrepreneurs by lowering fixed costs and allowing them to engage in joint market and household production. We evaluate a large-scale reform in Singapore, the Home Office Scheme, that allowed business creation at one's residential property and study whether home-based entrepreneurship spurs entrepreneurial activities. The difference-in-differences estimate shows that the reform led to a significantly higher level of business creation and that the firms newly created in response to the reform had a higher survival rate. The effect is more pronounced for low-income female individuals and industries with high startup capital, implying that financial constraints and nonpecuniary …

Creating Their Own: A Cross-National Examination Of New Venture Creation, Leif W. Lundmark, Brent B. Clark

Journal of Business & Entrepreneurship

What drives entrepreneurial activity and new venture creation? Common explanations within the entrepreneurship literature include the degree of available resources, the cultural inclinations of the society, and the institutional environment in which the activity occurs. Despite continued interest in this area of research, empirical findings remain largely inconclusive. Moreover, relatively few studies have empirically examined the various determinants concomitantly. Relying on panel data from 79 countries, we examine the asymmetrical impact of resources, culture, and institutions on both formal and informal entrepreneurial ventures. We find that higher levels of human capital, financial capital, and technological development lead to increased levels …

Ai Assignment Entr 101, Sheila K. Hanson

AI Assignment Library

The purpose of this assignment is to learn how to responsibly use AI (specifically ChatGPT for this assignment) to do background research and brainstorming for your famous entrepreneur term paper research assignment.

Antecedents Of Entrepreneurial Activity And Poverty: Mediating Effect Of Entrepreneurial Activity, Bashir I. Bugaje, Azmawani Abd Rahman, Rusmawati Said, Jo A. Ho, Abubakar A. Adamu

Journal of Global Business Insights

Poverty rates in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have risen, with 47% of the region’s population living in poverty. In Nigeria, approximately 87 million are classified as extremely poor. Existing research on the relationship between entrepreneurship and poverty in this region is fragmented and inconsistent. Traditional economic measures of poverty have proven inadequate, prompting the need for a multidimensional approach. The paper examined the mediating effect of entrepreneurial activity on the relationship between the precursors of entrepreneurship and poverty. The study used a survey method and partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) to analyze the data, which confirmed all hypotheses, revealing …

Breaking The Cycle: The Intersection Of Poverty And Entrepreneurship, Wes Keely

Masters Projects

This study explores the systemic issues that trap individuals in the cycle of poverty and examines how entrepreneurship can serve as a pathway to break this cycle, improve socioeconomic circumstances, and foster generational wealth. Guided by the research question, “What systemic issues trap individuals in the cycle of poverty, and how can they use entrepreneurship to improve their future and that of the next generation?”, the project aimed to uncover the underlying factors contributing to poverty and evaluate entrepreneurship's potential as a transformative solution.

Employing a mixed-methods approach, the study combined phenomenological analysis with the human-centered design problem-solving framework. Data …

Using Keyword Analysis For Market Validation Research, Zoeanna A. Mayhook

Libraries Faculty and Staff Scholarship and Research

Market validation is essential for assessing the feasibility of a business idea, product, or service but can involve extensive and costly primary and secondary research. Business librarians are well-positioned to support entrepreneurs and researchers but may be constrained by pricey subscriptions for business resources. While most often associated with search engine marketing, keyword research proves to be beneficial for market validation. This paper proposes integrating keyword analysis into market validation practices. It outlines the process of conducting keyword analysis and opportunities for business librarians to incorporate these strategies in their resource guides and programming.

Catalysing Growth: State Of Asean University Innovation And Entrepreneurship: Report 2024, Abdullah Khurshid, Dexter Ye Kai Tan, Gabrielle Lay Khim Tan

Research Collection Institute of Innovation and Entrepreneurship

Over the past few years, Southeast Asia has captured global attention with its remarkable economic growth, driven by strong tailwinds. This has led to the expansion of its middle-class consumer base that is actively participating in while benefitting from the region’s rapidly expanding digital economy. In such a climate, there is tremendous potential for Innovation and Entrepreneurship (I&E) to be a critical economic driver. Homegrown startups in different Southeast Asian countries have introduced technology-first solutions that have scaled across the region, pushing businesses to innovate rapidly. Moreover, startups promote inclusive growth by leveraging scalable internet platforms and novel technologies to …

Whether In The Classroom Or The Marketplace, There’S No Perfect Formula For Innovation And Entrepreneurship, Havovi Joshi

Asian Management Insights

Successful innovation is never easy, and the fine line between creating the next tech unicorn and the next failed start-up often lies in the founders’ capacity to learn from both their successes and setbacks.

Integrating Environmental And Entrepreneurship Advocacy Into Enviropreneurship Through Green Supply Chain Management, Waste Management, And Green Innovation: A Study On Smes Of Us, Rizwana Rasheed, Aamir Rashid, Noor Aina Amirah, Rashid Hashmi

Publications and Research

Many entrepreneurs across the US are the key players in building a greener economy. Their agility and innovative spirit offer a source of potential solutions. This is especially true for small businesses, which can quickly adapt to sustainable practices. Therefore, this research investigated the direct and indirect (mediating) roles of waste management and green innovations in green supply chain management and enviropreneurship performance, which is a transition from environmental to enviropreneurship advocacy. This study used a deductive approach with a quantitative research method. A study of a survey for 835 supply chain professionals in US small and medium enterprises used …

The Political Economy Of The Igbos Of Southeastern Nigeria: Analyzing The Igbo Entrepreneurship Model (Iem), Eze Simpson Osuagwu

Doctoral Dissertations and Projects

This study examines the relationship between culture and economic development using the case of the Igbo ethnic group of Southeastern Nigeria. The Igbo traditional apprenticeship system has been widely described in contemporary political economy literature as a model for stakeholder capitalism and shared prosperity for sustainable entrepreneurial development. This study draws a sample of 2,000 entrepreneurs from five business clusters across Nigeria in Aba, Onitsha, Nnewi, Lagos and Abuja to ascertain if there is a significant difference between the entrepreneurs who passed through the traditional apprenticeship system and those who did not. The study employs a Propensity Score Matching technique …

A Comparative Analysis Of Deaf Entrepreneurs In China And The United States, Wei Wu

Undergraduate University Honors Capstones

This paper compares the challenges that Deaf business people face in the US and China. The goal is to understand the experience of Deaf people in each country and to see what each country can learn from the other. To understand the experience of Deaf people in these countries, I will first look at the history of disability in each country and the challenges Deaf people face with gaining employment or becoming entrepreneurs. Then, I compare the cultural attitudes of each country towards Deaf people and the policy frameworks each country uses to create opportunities for Deaf people. Finally, this …

Huic Purchasing Group Llc. Business Plan, Grant Hull

Honors Theses

This business plan investigates the feasibility and best strategy to start a dental group purchasing company in the market today. Methods used consisted of interviewing industry professionals (Dentists, suppliers, and executives in a similar market), and market research through public information and trends. The 70 total interviews not only helped verify market projections and social trends, but also verified potential client willingness to join and verified a position in the market. Through this study it was concluded that: There is limited competition in the dental Group Purchasing Organization (GPO) space; to enter the market in a cost-effective way it is …

Building A Business: A Close-Knit Relationship Between Marketing & Entrepreneurship, Gabrielle O. Ysteboe

Honors Capstones

This project explores how best to build a knit blanket business with respect to several parameters including market research to determine price point, where to sell the product, with options including Etsy, brick and mortar, larger retail stores, personal website, craft fairs, and pop-up retail locations, and determining the target market and demographics, which will shape the marketing strategy to be used. It shows the ties between the 4 P's of marketing and entrepreneurship. Through surveys and primary research, data was found that allowed for one option for business placement to come out on top. It also allowed for the …

Innovation Unveiled: The Power Of Innovative Experiences On Undergraduate Development, Alexander Cummings

Finance Undergraduate Honors Theses

A paper analyzing my experiences participating in the McMillon Innovation Studio and other OEI programs and their impact on my development during my undergraduate education.
It explores how these experiences can positively affect students of all backgrounds and how universities can work to improve these programs to further amplify their effects.

Sports Science: An Entrepreneurial Venture, Nicole J. Jones

Senior Honors Projects

In sports science, ensuring maximum athlete safety and optimizing data utilization are pivotal yet leave room for further work. My project, Unbeaten SafeWare, addresses these critical issues by focusing on two primary concerns: preventing heat-related and cardiac illnesses, which are significant causes of athlete fatalities, and enhancing the transparency and utility of sports data. This initiative involves developing a shirt integrated with sensors to monitor vital signs and an athlete management system to handle data input, storage, analysis, and accessibility for athletes.

The project has advanced through the efforts of a multidisciplinary team, which includes biomedical engineering undergraduates, two faculty …

Board Gender Diversity, Ceo Turnover, And Firm Performance In Entrepreneurial Firms, Matthew Imes, Mark West, Jessica West, Shan Yan

The Journal of Entrepreneurial Finance

This article examines recent literature on corporate boards and the interplay between director gender and CEO turnover and how it affects firm performance after CEO turnover. The primary focus is board gender diversity and CEO job embeddedness in entrepreneurial firms. This article discusses gender diversity and the frequency of CEO turnover. This paper finds that board gender diversity is associated with lower CEO involuntary turnovers and better overall performance in entrepreneurial firms. The article highlights how board gender diversity, especially in small firms, provides a unique pathway to create firm value and examines recent evidence on how gender diverse board …

Upstarts T3: An Asynchronous And Cohort-Based Entrepreneurship Train-The-Trainer Program, Surin Kim, Maria Rosario T. De Guzman, Kieu-Anh Do, Irene Padasas, Claire Nicholas, Olivia Kennedy, Anna Erdmann, Andy Larson

Journal of Extension

UpStarts is a reverse-mentoring youth program designed to foster an entrepreneurial mindset among participants and a sense of connection between youth and adults. Effective facilitators are critical to the success of the program. This paper describes an asynchronous, cohort-based virtual train-the-trainer (T3) program for potential UpStarts facilitators that was developed to navigate the challenges posed by the COVID pandemic. Participants of the initial UpStarts T3 program reported positive feedback for the training and a high sense of efficacy in implementing UpStarts in their communities. The current T3 model is emerging as a promising means of preparing facilitators to implement UpStarts …

Navigating The Pathway To Entrepreneurship For Persons With Disabilities: Insights From An Irish Context, Thomas M. Cooney, Martina Brophy, Ahsan Habib

Reports

This report is a study of the challenges facing persons with disabilities who want to start a business in Ireland. It profiles the community and identifies the distinctive barriers to entrepreneurship that persons with disabilities endure. The report concludes by offering a series of recommendations regarding what actions should be taken to improve the pathway to entrepreneurship for persons with disabilities in Ireland.