Title: Understanding the journey: challenges, opportunities, and pathways for refugee entrepreneurship

Authors: Ujal Ibrahim; Martha Archuleta; Brad Lundahl; Caren J. Frost

Addresses: Department of Marketing, Strategy, and Entrepreneurship, University Canada West, 1461 Granville St., Vancouver, BC, V6Z 0E5, Canada ' Department of Nutrition, Dietetics, and Food Sciences, Utah State University, Logan, UT 84322, USA ' College of Social Work, University of Utah, 395 1500 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA ' College of Social Work, University of Utah, 395 1500 E, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA

Abstract: Entrepreneurship has the potential to aid refugees in integrating into the host country and adapting to mainstream life. The purpose of this study was to explore the entrepreneurship journey of refugees and its impact on their integration process in the USA. Findings of the study derived from semi-structured, individual interviews conducted with entrepreneurs from refugee backgrounds. The emergent overarching themes indicated that despite encountering language, culture, regulatory, and system-related barriers, as well as limited access to business funds and mainstream business resources, the entrepreneurship experiences of refugees gave them a sense of autonomy, freedom, and hope for a brighter future.

Keywords: refugee; entrepreneurship; refugee entrepreneurship; refugee entrepreneurs; refugee integration; migration; integration.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEV.2025.146875

International Journal of Entrepreneurial Venturing, 2025 Vol.17 No.1, pp.52 - 72

Received: 22 May 2023
Accepted: 11 Dec 2023
Published online: 24 Jun 2025 *

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