RENT

The perspective that entrepreneurship has multiple faces enables us to broaden our understanding of entrepreneurship as a process and practice. Recognizing the diverse faces of entrepreneurship expands our understanding of the range of possibilities within the entrepreneurial landscape. It encourages us to think beyond the traditional models of starting a for-profit business and consider alternative pathways to innovation, social impact, and personal fulfilment.

Whilst entrepreneurship is inextricably linked to innovation, different forms of entrepreneurship foster different types of innovation. By studying its various guises, we can explore innovative approaches, business models, and solutions that address societal, environmental, or technological challenges. This broader perspective encourages creativity and pushes the boundaries of traditional entrepreneurship.

We also know that entrepreneurs are heterogeneous, as distinct types of entrepreneurs require distinct forms of support and resources. By understanding the different faces of entrepreneurship and intersecting markers of their identities, policymakers, incubators, investors, and educators can tailor their programs, funding, mentorship, and training to meet the specific needs of different entrepreneurial endeavours. This targeted support enhances the chances of success for aspiring entrepreneurs.

Furthermore, contemporary entrepreneurs are not just profit driven. Many individuals are motivated to pursue entrepreneurial endeavours that align with their passions, values, and desired lifestyles. Understanding and embracing different guises of entrepreneurship allows individuals to find fulfilment and balance in their professional lives, contributing to overall well-being and satisfaction.

We know that entrepreneurship is a key driver of economic growth and job creation, but time has come to bring de-growth into this scholarly discussion. Indeed, there is increasing awareness and acceptance that humanity must learn to live within the boundaries of our planet and its regenerative resources. By embracing diverse forms of entrepreneurship, researchers, policymakers, and communities can create and foster a broader discussion about the role(s) entrepreneurship can play during these times of renewal. Entrepreneurship is seen by governments as part of the solution for social and environmental problems and other global challenges. Social entrepreneurship for instance provides a platform for individuals to create ventures that tackle these issues head-on. In similar vein, green entrepreneurship aims to address pressing environmental issues (e.g., carbon capture, novel sources of renewable energies…). Understanding the unique characteristics and motivations of social and green entrepreneurs helps us develop strategies to support their endeavours, foster collaboration with other sectors, and create positive social change. 

Entrepreneurship is an activity that takes place in the Global North and the Global South, but we know less about entrepreneurship across cultures, regions, and economies from beyond the Anglo-Saxon world. Recognizing the different faces of entrepreneurship helps us appreciate and learn from the entrepreneurial practices and traditions of various societies. It promotes cross-cultural collaboration, knowledge exchange, and the adoption of best practices from diverse entrepreneurial ecosystems.

We hope that RENT Conference in 2024 will attract submissions that help us reveal the multiple guises of entrepreneurship, thus contributing to fostering not only the academic agenda but also stimulate fruitful discussions within the policy and practitioner communities. The 2024 RENT Conference will increase awareness and encourage scholarly work on a variety of entrepreneurial landscapes, which might further support innovation, help match support and resources to entrepreneurs’ needs to address societal challenges, promote economic development and redistribution, foster personal fulfilment and well-being, and provide a more nuanced and critical perspective on entrepreneurial actors, processes, and practices. Embracing the diversity of entrepreneurship can lead to more inclusive, sustainable, and value-creating entrepreneurial ecosystems in our societies. So, let us meet in Nantes and see how we can re-shape the research agenda in this direction.

All submitted abstracts will be reviewed using a double-blind review process. The RENT Scientific Committee and several well-known researchers will be involved in the process.

Several awards will be distributed (2023 J.M.Veciana Best paper Award for a Junior Researcher, ISBJ Best paper award, Alistair Anderson ERD (Entrepreneurship & Regional Development) best Paper Award, and Best reviewer nominees).

Quantitative, qualitative, and conceptual papers are welcome for the following theme tracks

1. Opportunity generation and early business development
2. Business models (growth, performance), international entrepreneurship
3. Entrepreneurial finance for new and growing businesses
4. Human capital, social capital, and networks
5. Entrepreneurship education and learning
6. Policy, support systems, and ecosystems
7. Critical perspectives on entrepreneurship
8. Methodology and research methods
9. Minority entrepreneurship
10. Gender and co-preneurship
11. Technology and knowledge-based entrepreneurship
12. Family business, succession, and business transfer
13. Social and sustainable entrepreneurship
14. Corporate entrepreneurship, intrapreneurship
15. Entrepreneurship in creative economies
16. Conducting experiments in Entrepreneurship Research
17. Institutions and Entrepreneurship
18. Entrepreneurship, Degrowth, Futures
19. Conference theme: Multiple Faces of Entrepreneurship
20. Open Track