This presentation examines the relationship between migrant entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial ecosystems (support infrastructure for businesspeople), with a particular focus on how they are connected to—or excluded from—these structures. Based on 23 interviews conducted in a German city, the study reveals that despite appearances of integration, significant forms of disconnection persist. These include segregated networks, limited access to resources, lack of representation, and feelings of alienation. A key finding is that discrimination—both structural and interactional—acts as a cross-cutting force that reinforces these forms of exclusion.
The analysis draws on social capital theory, especially the distinction between bonding, bridging, and linking social capital. While many migrants possess strong bonding capital—close, trusted ties within their own communities—there is often a lack of bridging capital that would connect them to other social groups and wider markets. Most critically, linking capital is scarce: access to institutions, decision-makers, and financial or business support structures remains limited. This uneven distribution of social capital, and the structural barriers to building bridging and linking networks, contribute significantly to the experience of disconnectedness.
About the presenter:
Born in 1977, Alexandra David studied communication science at the University of Duisburg-Essen and economics at the Distance University in Hagen. She holds a PhD in sociology from the University of Twente. Since January 2006, she has been a researcher at the Institute for Work and Technology at the Westphalian University, working in the ‘Innovation, Space & Culture’ research department. Her work focuses on diversity, migration, innovation, and integration, with a special emphasis on power dynamics, minority entrepreneurship, and the inclusion of vulnerable groups in labour markets and innovation ecosystems.
