Where Do I Belong and With Whom? Relational and Spatial Pathways of Diaspora Entrepreneurship

This study examines how migrant entrepreneurs navigate host-country entrepreneurial ecosystems through relational and spatial forms of inclusion. Drawing on nine qualitative case studies of migrant entrepreneurs in Italy, the article shows that entrepreneurial inclusion is not achieved only through formal support organisations, but is actively negotiated through access to local spaces, informal networks, and bridging actors. The findings highlight what the article conceptualises as local integration capability: the capacity to combine prior entrepreneurial experience, diaspora-related resources, and host-country relationships to access opportunities within the local ecosystem. By distinguishing entrepreneurial ecosystem perspectives from institutional and informal network approaches, the study contributes to diaspora entrepreneurship research by showing how migrant entrepreneurs mobilise both relational and spatial pathways to overcome institutional frictions and develop sustainable ventures.