Technological Entrepreneurship and Startup Ecosystems
Abstract
This study analyzes the structural and enabling factors that support technological entrepreneurship within urban ecosystems, focusing on Latin American cities. Employing a mixed-methods qualitative design, the research integrates a systematic literature review using thematic mapping with a comparative case analysis of three urban contexts: Medellín (Colombia), Santiago de Chile (Chile), and Mexico City (Mexico). Four key enabling dimensions were identified: technological infrastructure, digital talent development, collaborative governance networks, and targeted public policies. Findings reveal that the isolated presence of these factors is insufficient; rather, their systemic articulation is critical for ecosystem consolidation. Medellín stands out for its tripartite governance model and territorial innovation strategy, while Santiago demonstrates progress through public-private funding mechanisms and skill-building initiatives. In contrast, Mexico City exhibits structural fragmentation despite its potential. The study concludes that urban ecosystems for technological entrepreneurship require adaptive institutional frameworks, collaborative governance structures, and outcome-oriented policy instruments to scale impact and ensure long-term sustainability.Downloads
References
Angelelli, P., & Prats, J. (2019). Espacios de innovación en ciudades latinoamericanas: Una mirada desde Buenos Aires y Santiago. Revista Gestión Pública e Innovación, 2(2), 67–81.
Amorós, J. E., & Cristi, O. (2011). Poverty, human development and entrepreneurship. The dynamics of entrepreneurship: Evidence from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor data, 209–228.
Banco Interamericano de Desarrollo (BID). (2022). Ecosistemas de innovación en América Latina. BID. https://www.iadb.org/es
Carayannis, E. G., & Campbell, D. F. J. (2010). Triple helix, quadruple helix and quintuple helix models of innovation: A suggested framework for knowledge-based economy. International Journal of Technology Management, 50(1), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1504/IJTM.2010.035978
Contreras, J., & López, M. (2020). Aceleradoras, coworking y apoyo al emprendimiento tecnológico en Ciudad de México. Revista de Estudios Urbanos Latinoamericanos, 4(2), 112–127.
Crespo, J., & Vázquez, X. H. (2018). Ecosistemas de emprendimiento: el caso de Medellín. Revista de Estudios Urbanos y Ciencias Sociales, 8(1), 45–58.
ECLAC (Comisión Económica para América Latina y el Caribe). (2022). Políticas de innovación inclusiva en América Latina: Avances y desafíos. https://www.cepal.org
Florida, R. (2014). The rise of the creative class–revisited: Revised and expanded. Basic Books.
González-Pernía, J. L., Peña-Legazkue, I., & Vendrell-Herrero, F. (2019). Innovation-driven entrepreneurship in cities: A multi-level approach. Small Business Economics, 52(3), 545–558. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-017-9936-8
Guerrero, M., Urbano, D., & Herrera, F. (2019). Innovation practices in emerging economies: Do university partnerships matter? Journal of Technology Transfer, 44, 615–646. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10961-017-9611-9
Isenberg, D. J. (2011). The entrepreneurship ecosystem strategy as a new paradigm for economic policy: Principles for cultivating entrepreneurship. The Babson Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Project, 1(1), 1–13.
Kantis, H., Federico, J., & Ibarra García, S. (2020). Dinámicas ecosistémicas y nuevas generaciones de emprendedores en América Latina. Prodem. https://www.prodem.ungs.edu.ar
Lafuente, E., Vaillant, Y., & Serarols-Tarrés, C. (2007). Regional differences in the influence of role models: Comparing the entrepreneurial process of rural and urban areas. International Entrepreneurship and Management Journal, 3(2), 131–152. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11365-006-0013-1
Rueda, S., & Orduz, M. (2021). Inclusión tecnológica y ecosistemas urbanos: El caso de Medellín como ciudad laboratorio. Revista Latinoamericana de Innovación Social Urbana, 3(1), 87–102.
Spigel, B. (2017). The relational organization of entrepreneurial ecosystems. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 41(1), 49–72. https://doi.org/10.1111/etap.12167
Stam, E. (2015). Entrepreneurial ecosystems and regional policy: A sympathetic critique. European Planning Studies, 23(9), 1759–1769. https://doi.org/10.1080/09654313.2015.1061484
Stam, E., & Spigel, B. (2017). Entrepreneurial ecosystems. In R. Blackburn, D. De Clercq, & J. Heinonen (Eds.), The SAGE Handbook of Small Business and Entrepreneurship (pp. 407–422). SAGE Publications.
Published papers are the exclusive responsibility of their authors and do not necessary reflect the opinions of the editorial committee.
IJMSOR respects the moral rights of its authors, whom must cede the editorial committee the patrimonial rights of the published material. In turn, the authors inform that the current work is unpublished and has not been previously published.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.

