Title: Analysis of the Brazilian entrepreneurial ecosystem in the perception of business incubator professionals

Authors: Mário Cesar Silva; Rosley Anholon; Izabela Simon Rampasso; Osvaldo Luiz Gonçalves Quelhas; Walter Leal Filho; Dirceu Da Silva

Addresses: Department of Manufacturing Engineering and Materials, State University of Campinas, Mendeleyev Street, 200. Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil ' Department of Manufacturing Engineering and Materials, State University of Campinas, Mendeleyev Street, 200. Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil ' Department of Manufacturing Engineering and Materials, State University of Campinas, Mendeleyev Street, 200. Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil ' Laboratory of Technology, Business and Environment Management, Fluminense Federal University, Passo da Pátria Street, 156, Niteroi, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil ' Faculty of Life Sciences, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Ulmenliet 20, Sector S4, Hamburg, Germany ' Laboratory of Innovation Technology Applied, Faculty of Education, State University of Campinas, Bertrand Russell Avenue, 801 Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil

Abstract: This paper aims to analyse the maturity of the Brazilian entrepreneurial ecosystem based on the opinions and insights from business incubator professionals. To this end, a survey was performed with 74 professionals who published at least one paper related to this topic in Brazil. The maturity analysis was based on a theoretical model with variables to be measured for the incubators in six major constructs: support, government, finance, human capital, culture and market. Data was analysed through structural equation modelling, which allowed for a statistic validation of the model. With this validation, it was possible to analyse the maturity notes assigned to each variable and conclude that the Brazilian entrepreneurial ecosystem has an intermediate level of maturity, with some possible improvements. The originality of this study lies both in the assessment carried out and in the use of this particular statistical technique for this purpose.

Keywords: entrepreneurship; Brazilian entrepreneurial ecosystem; business incubators; business incubators professionals; structural equation modelling; partial least squares method; constructs; SmartPLS; Brazil.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBIR.2018.093524

International Journal of Business Innovation and Research, 2018 Vol.16 No.4, pp.507 - 530

Received: 09 Jan 2017
Accepted: 25 Mar 2017
Published online: 27 Jul 2018 *

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