Jan Kratzer, Chaired Professor for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management and Founder/Academic Director of Centre for Entrepreneurship (CfE) at Technische Universität Berlin, joins Matthias Catón in this episode. Jan shares his expertise on challenges for entrepreneurs in low-income countries, comparing them to high-income countries.
As their discussion explores the concept of entrepreneurship in fragile states, Matthias and Jan discuss theoretical definitions of fragile states and entrepreneurship. Jan explains how the latter has contrasting definitions globally; for example, micro-entrepreneurship is very common in African and Asian states, but the social-political-economic nexus in fragile states hinders the sustainability of an entrepreneurial business model.
Despite the obstacles faced in fragile environments, such as low-tech industries, a lack of entrepreneurial support systems and legal regulations, Jan recognises the significance these young entrepreneurs have in growing economies through informal and smaller-scale entrepreneurship.
Jan and Matthias further discuss the need for tailored educational programmes to train young entrepreneurs, the importance of reducing protectionist measures and how matured markets must give away their power to allow others to emerge and grow.
As an increase in geopolitical risk calls for rethinking business strategies to maintain resilience, this episode is a must listen to gain a deeper insight into stimulating growth in fragile environments.
About the guest
Jan Kratzer is Chaired Professor for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management and Founder/Academic Director of Centre for Entrepreneurship (CfE) at Technische Universität Berlin, Germany. At the Faculty for Business and Economy at Technische Universität Berlin he holds the function as Vice Dean for Internationalization and he is a member of the Academic Senate of Technische Universität Berlin. Prof. Dr. Jan Kratzer established and leads the (dual degree) master program MSc “Innovation Management, Entrepreneurship and Sustainability” (“IMES”).
In 2003 Jan Kratzer and others created the startup “NetScan” (Applied Network Analytics) and in 2006 Jan Kratzer and others created the startup “Improof” (Project Management).
As Chaired Professor for Entrepreneurship and Innovation Management/Academic Director CfE he has attracted around 20 million € third party funding from 2010 to 2023, He is in the editorial board of “Creativity and Innovation Management” (CIM), “Journal of Product Innovation Management” (J-PIM), “Sustainability” and “Highlights of Sustainability”. His research is mainly on factors that drive sustainable entrepreneurial and innovation activities towards success and resulted in ca. 100 scientific publications. At all Prof. Dr. Jan Kratzer has supervised more than 80 PhD’s as first supervisor.
Executive Briefing – what you should read now
- Lerner, D. A., Alkærsig, L., Fitza, M. A., Lomberg, C., & Johnson, S. K. (2021). Nothing Ventured, Nothing Gained: Parasite Infection is Associated with Entrepreneurial Initiation, Engagement, and Performance. Entrepreneurship Theory and Practice, 45(1), 118–144. https://doi.org/10.1177/1042258719890992
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