INNOVATION AT THE MARGINS: CREATIVE TECHNOLOGY ENTREPRENEURSHIP FOR INCLUSIVE DEVELOPMENT
Abstract
In emerging economies, marginalized communities face significant barriers to entrepreneurship, including limited access to resources, markets, and technology. Creative technology entrepreneurship offers an innovative solution to these challenges, empowering local entrepreneurs to create impactful businesses that drive social change. This study explores the role of creative technologies, such as mobile apps, digital media, and virtual reality, in enhancing community-based entrepreneurship and fostering inclusive development. The research aims to understand how these technologies enable marginalized entrepreneurs to overcome barriers, increase market access, and create sustainable business models. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining qualitative case studies and quantitative surveys to assess the impact of technology adoption on business performance and social outcomes. The findings reveal that entrepreneurs who integrated creative technologies into their businesses saw significant improvements in customer engagement, market reach, and operational efficiency. Furthermore, social capital and local community networks played a crucial role in supporting technology adoption and fostering business success. The study concludes that creative technology entrepreneurship is a key driver of inclusive development, offering a pathway for marginalized communities to participate in the digital economy. These findings suggest that policymakers and development organizations should support the integration of creative technologies into entrepreneurship programs to promote sustainable economic and social growth.
Full text article
References
Al-kfairy, M., & Alyafei, R. A. S. M. (2025). Social commerce in rural Jordan: analyzing adoption factors through the lens of innovation diffusion and perceived risks. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 32(6), 1354–1375. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1108/JSBED-02-2025-0070
Biglieri, S., & Mandalaki, E. (2025). “Autre chose”: rethinking (post)qualitative methodologies through research-creation in/for the study of organizations. Qualitative Research in Organizations and Management: An International Journal, 21(1), 24–44. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1108/QROM-11-2024-2863
Bird, Y., Li, J. (Jason), Zhu, Y., & Liao, Z. (2025). Gender and social entrepreneurship fundraising: A mission drift perspective. Organizational Behavior and Human Decision Processes, 188, 104407. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.obhdp.2025.104407
Capello, R., Ciappei, S., & Lenzi, C. (2025). Digitalisation, platformisation and the transformations of local labour markets. Papers in Regional Science, 104(4), 100103. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pirs.2025.100103
Chalmers, D., Honecker, F., Johnson, D., & Milne, G. (2025). Entrepreneurship and ideology: Accelerationism, degrowth, and the emerging political economy of venture creation. Journal of Business Venturing Insights, e00566. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbvi.2025.e00566
Chen, M., & Wang, C. (2024). How business model innovation facilitates microcredit in balancing social mission with commercial performance - evidence from local commercial banks. Technological Forecasting and Social Change, 202, 123287. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.techfore.2024.123287
Cho, Y., Park, J., Yoo, J., Kim, S., & Park, H. (2025). A study on Gen-AI technology development trends to enhance small-medium sized enterprise digital competence and management quality. Journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies, 17(5), 1193–1218. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1108/JEEE-10-2024-0485
Deif, A., & Cochrane, L. (2025). Social and solidarity economy (SSE) approach for technical and vocational education training (TVET) empowering youth with disrupted education. Education + Training, 68(3), 386–408. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1108/ET-08-2025-0671
Drydakis, N. (2025). AI business applications training and business outcomes: An inclusive intervention for underrepresented entrepreneurs. Journal of Strategy & Innovation, 36(2), 200552. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsinno.2025.200552
Gemelgo, B., Pereira, L. F., Dias, Á. L., & Carvalho, J. C. (2025). Unpacking disruptive innovation: Key insights and strategies for competitive advantage. Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity, 11(4), 100641. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joitmc.2025.100641
Goodman, N. P., Lehto, O., & Novak, M. (2025). Institutional diversity and innovative recombination. European Economic Review, 174, 104998. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.euroecorev.2025.104998
Green, K. R., & Wraight, T. (2024). Willy Wonka and the boy-entrepreneur archetype: the changing faces of entrepreneurial masculinity, 1971–2023. International Journal of Gender and Entrepreneurship, 17(3), 449–468. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1108/IJGE-05-2024-0168
Guarneros-Meza, V. (2025). Precarious work and local governance through the lens of informality and caring for place. Political Geography, 121, 103380. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.polgeo.2025.103380
Gupta, V. (2025). Building regional entrepreneurial ecosystems: Lessons from Germany’s Havel Valley community-driven initiatives. Journal of Open Innovation: Technology, Market, and Complexity, 11(4), 100669. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.joitmc.2025.100669
He, J., & Liu, Y. (2024). Digital inclusion finance, social governance and household investment decisions. Finance Research Letters, 62, 105250. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.frl.2024.105250
Hynek, N., Gavurova, B., & Kubak, M. (2025). Risks and benefits of artificial intelligence deepfakes: Systematic review and comparison of public attitudes in seven European Countries. Journal of Innovation & Knowledge, 10(5), 100782. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jik.2025.100782
Kuran, O., & Khabbaz, L. (2025). Women entrepreneurs in challenging contexts: the role of purpose and coping strategies in building resilience. Journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies, 18(1), 151–185. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1108/JEEE-09-2024-0388
Noaime, E., Alalouch, C., Mesloub, A., Hamdoun, H., Gnaba, H., & Alnaim, M. M. (2025). Sustainable cities and urban dynamics: The role of the café culture in transforming the public realm. Ain Shams Engineering Journal, 16(3), 103320. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.asej.2025.103320
Ondoua Beyene, B., Koungou Ewolo, A. A., & Andriamanantena, A. N. (2025). Cultural diffusion and entrepreneurship in Sub-Saharan Africa: a culture-based development revisited. The Bottom Line, 38(2), 209–232. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1108/BL-09-2024-0165
Ondoua Beyene, B., Ngnouwal Eloundou, G., Mokompea Nyamou, J. C., & Gallouj, C. (2025). Energy poverty and entrepreneurship: evidence from sub-Saharan Africa. The Bottom Line, 38(2), 233–252. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1108/BL-09-2024-0169
Othman, A. A. E., Aziz, M. N. W., & Alamoudy, F. O. (2024). A framework for developing sustainable architectural entrepreneurship start-ups in Egypt. Archnet-IJAR: International Journal of Architectural Research, 20(2), 478–497. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1108/ARCH-07-2024-0286
Sen, S., Savitskie, K., Kumar, S. K., Kallmuenzer, A., & Brooks Jr., J. R. (Rusty). (2025). Operational, marketing and psychological dimensions of food truck entrepreneurship. British Food Journal, 128(2), 544–566. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1108/BFJ-05-2025-0731
Shiferaw, R. M., Debela, K. L., & Kero, C. A. (2025). Effect of green leadership on sustainable performance of large manufacturing firms using leader innovation behaviour as a mediating role: Evidence from large manufacturing firm in Ethiopia. Sustainable Futures, 10, 101005. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sftr.2025.101005
Swaramarinda, D. R., Isa, B. Bin, Puruwita, D., Faslah, R., Arfiando Sebayang, K. D., & Adha, M. A. (2025). Preparing vocational students for the digital economy: Exploring the role of digital literacy, entrepreneurial agility, and digital entrepreneurship education. Social Sciences & Humanities Open, 12, 101926. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ssaho.2025.101926
van den Broek, A., & Gander, J. (2024). When strategy is a dirty word: The role of visuals in sensegiving strategy to a skeptical audience. Long Range Planning, 57(1), 102411. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lrp.2023.102411
van der Hoeven, A., & Hitters, E. (2023). Live music and the New Urban Agenda: Social, economic, environmental and spatial sustainability in live music ecologies. City, Culture and Society, 32, 100490. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccs.2022.100490
van Haaren-van Duijn, B., Roca, J. B., de Groot, P., Romme, A. G. L., & Weggeman, M. (2024). Creating and Testing a Guideline for Governing Blockchain Ecosystems: A Study Informed by Design Science. She Ji: The Journal of Design, Economics, and Innovation, 10(3), 325–350. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sheji.2024.09.001
Virani, T. E. (2023). Social inclusion and SMEs: The case of creative SMEs in Hackney Wick and Fish Island, London. City, Culture and Society, 32, 100493. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ccs.2022.100493
Walker, R., Adawudu, E. A., Briere, C.-E., Chung, J., Dillard-Wright, J., Iradukunda, F., Leblanc, R., Mwalingo, T., Park, H., & Riddington, S. (2025). University of Massachusetts Amherst’s nursing PhD program Equity-centered community design of a new curriculum to transform the discipline, achieve health justice, and sustain planetary health. Nursing Outlook, 73(5), 102473. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.outlook.2025.102473
Wan Ali, W. N. S., & Ali Othman, Z. (2025). Home-based business lifecycle for the development of B40 women entrepreneurs. Journal of Small Business and Enterprise Development, 33(2), 451–475. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1108/JSBED-03-2024-0156
Ylinen, M., & Ranta, M. (2025). Predicting corporate innovation using machine learning and social media data. Technovation, 148, 103322. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.technovation.2025.103322
Zapata Campos, M. J., Barinaga, E., Dimba Kiaka, R., & Ocampo, J. (2023). Nothing to lose: the rationales of grassroots financial innovations in contexts of extreme scarcity. Social Enterprise Journal, 19(2), 193–212. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1108/SEJ-08-2022-0074
Zreik, M. (2025). Economic integration of Syrian refugees in Lebanon: Challenges and opportunities for sustainable development. Development and Sustainability in Economics and Finance, 7, 100061. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dsef.2025.100061
Authors
Copyright (c) 2026 Kim Minho, Park Jihoon, Lee Jiwon, Mardani Eka Ningrum

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.