The Evolution of an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem in St. Louis, United States

Abstract

Abstract While studies of entrepreneurship and local systems—so-called entrepreneurship ecosystems—have grown exponentially in the past decade, most have been cross-sectional, and we still have limited understanding about the evolution of the ecosystem. Building upon the author’s earlier work, this chapter conducts an exploratory analysis of St. Louis, Missouri, over about fifteen years, during which the stakeholders in the region gained confidence as an upcoming entrepreneurial hub with increased venture capital investment and successful exits. The region has also experienced substantial transformation with privatization of support services and major reorientations by non-profit organizations, partially induced by a radical reduction in government funding. As a result, many organizations have pursued niche strategies with sectors and between districts inside the city. Given that the new entrepreneurial community emerged around Caucasian male entrepreneurs, the inclusion of women and minorities has become a pressing regional issue. Overall, the highly complex evolution, with many actors within the ecosystem, suggests that ecosystems do not follow linear patterns of nascence, growth, and maturity, but rather develop in a unique, highly complex way.

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