Autocatalysis in Rural Entrepreneurship: The Case of PEAK Sunnfjord

Abstract

This paper employs ecological principles and entrepreneurial ecosystem theory to analyse, describe and conceptualise the dynamics of a rural start-up ecosystem in Western Norway. We present the idea of a set of autocatalytic processes that we argue are crucial and distinct to entrepreneurial ecosystem process theory. We also argue those processes are key to understanding and stimulating regional entrepreneurial growth. The study uses qualitative semi-structured interviews of actors within the ecosystem. In total, we draw a picture of a business ecosystem's evolutionary processes and dynamics. We argue that vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystems are not dependent on the conditional and agglomerative factors in the region (urban attributes) but can emerge only based on a set of initial conditions that can exist regardless of location. Based on our findings, we offer policy guidelines and future research avenues.