A research on the entrepreneurship ecosystem of immigrant women living in Turkey

Entrepreneurship in developing countries is considered a significant element in economic growth and social change. Migrant women take significant steps towards establishing businesses or engaging in entrepreneurial activities in a new country by surpassing their home country's boundaries. In this context, understanding the positions of migrant women entrepreneurs who have settled in Turkey from different geographical regions within the entrepreneurial ecosystem and comprehending this ecosystem based on their experiences is a crucial aspect. The primary objective of this study is to elucidate the entrepreneurship ecosystem by focusing on the positions of migrant women entrepreneurs operating in Turkey, situated within the local entrepreneurship ecosystem of a developing country. To achieve this aim, the study benefited from the Isenberg Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Model. The theoretical underpinnings of the study, constructed to understand the roles, interactions, and experiences of migrant women entrepreneurs within the local entrepreneurship ecosystem, are based on conceptual approaches such as Neo Institutional Theory, Social Network Theory, and Cultural Theory. Employing an instrumental case study approach derived from qualitative research patterns, the study was conducted through interviews with 9 migrant women entrepreneurs identified using a purposive sampling strategy. Subsequently collected data were analyzed using a descriptive analysis method. The study concludes that the ecosystem elements for migrant women entrepreneurs in Turkey consist of policy, finance, support systems, and cultural elements.