The legitimacy of corporate accelerators within entrepreneurial ecosystems: perceptions of supported entrepreneurs

Abstract

Entrepreneurial ecosystems (EEs) are changing as funding for traditional support structures is reduced and large corporations are running corporate accelerators (CAs). These new support organizations are struggling to survive and address challenges of legitimacy. However, research on EEs has not yet investigated the conditions of their existence from an ecosystemic perspective. Drawing on neoinstitutional theory (NIT) and the legitimacy-as-perception approach, we introduce the concept of entrepreneurial ecosystemic legitimacy (EEL) and explore supported entrepreneurs’ perceptions. Empirically, we conduct a single case study of a large French group (case) and 9 of its CAs in 9 EEs (subcases) with 36 interviews and 1 focus group. The results show that supported entrepreneurs build their perceptions of EEL in 3 dimensions: utilitarian, existential and socioeconomic. These dimensions are linked to 3 institutional logics that structure the organizational field of EEs. This research contributes to the theorization of EEs by highlighting the microfoundations of legitimacy perceptions and by developing a new framework of the EEL of CAs as perceived by supported entrepreneurs. From a managerial perspective, this research outlines a set of strategic actions for CAs and public authorities.

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