How does an entrepreneur rise? Proposition of a conceptual model of entrepreneurs’ background analysis
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5007/2175-8077.2025.e97576Keywords:
Background, Entrepreneurship, Entrepreneur, Rise, ModelAbstract
Goal: We propose a conceptual model that gathers different factors preceding the entrepreneur’s formation, the so-called entrepreneur’s background.
Methodology/approach: The present research was operationalized according to three stages, namely: systematic literature review, in-depth interviews with experts and focus group with entrepreneurs; being followed by the model stage, which comprised in-depth interviews based on reports by 12 entrepreneurs.
Originality/relevance: Much is studied about the life of an entrepreneur after starting his/her activity. However, little is analyzed about this before the initial moment of the entrepreneurial activity.
Main findings: The study proposes a model for analyzing the entrepreneur's background, which presents six analysis axes capable of foreseeing the entrepreneurial profile, named: family, place of birth or raising, schooling, sociodemographic relationships, professional activity; and philosophical or religious aspects.
Theoretical contributions: The present study introduces an instrument that enables mapping prior characteristics to the entrepreneurial activity.
Management contributions: As its general contribution, it can be used in public policies focused on encouraging entrepreneurship, as well as help private institutions for entrepreneurship support.
References
Ahn, K., & Winters, J. V. (2023). Does education enhance entrepreneurship? Small Business Economics, 61(2), 717-743. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11187-022-00701-x
Alonso-Almeida, M. D. M., Perramon, J, & Bagur, L (2015). Women managers and corporate social responsibility (CSR) in Spain: Perceptions and drivers. Women's Studies International Forum, 50(1), 47-56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.wsif.2015.02.007
Bauer, M. W., Gaskell, G. (2008). Pesquisa qualitativa com texto, imagem e som: um manual prático. (7. ed.). São Paulo: Editora Vozes Limitada.
Boca, D. G. (2014). Modeling the Future Entrepreneurship. Procedia – Social and Behavioral Sciences, 109(1), 427-431. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2013.12.485
Bocanegra, A. L., Fernández, J. G., Ruiz, P. G., Puyana, M. G., & Millán, M. R. B. G. (2022). Does background matter? Analysis of the influence of sex, socioeconomic status and the existence of an entrepreneurial family member as a precursor to entrepreneurship in university students of Sport Sciences. Journal of Hospitality, Leisure, Sport & Tourism Education, 31(1), 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhlste.2022.100394
Botelho, T., Harrison, R., & Mason, C. (2023). Business angel investment as an informal learning process: Does experience matter?. British Journal of Management, 34(1), 321-342. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8551.12583
Crowley, F., & Barlow, P. (2022). Entrepreneurship and social capital: a multi-level analysis. International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research, 28(9), 492-519. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEBR-10-2021-0868
Dewitt, S., Sadeghi, V. J., Sukumar, A., Nagaraju, R. A., Sadraei, R., & Li, F. (2023). Family dynamics and relationships in female entrepreneurship: An exploratory study. Journal of Family Business Management, 13(3), 626-644. https://doi.org/10.1108/JFBM-01-2022-0013
Diochon, M., Menzies, T. V., & Gasse, Y. (2005) Canadian Nascent Entrepreneurs’ Start-up Efforts: Outcomes and Individual Influences on Sustainability, Journal of Small Business & Entrepreneurship, 18(1), 53-74. https://doi.org/10.1080/08276331.2005.10593332
Dornelas, J. C. A. (2015). Empreendedorismo na prática: mitos e verdades do empreendedor de sucesso (3ª ed.). Rio de Janeiro: LTC.
Fernandes, N. P.; D’avila, L. C.; Cruz, A. P. C. & Pereira Junior, E. F. Z. (2020). Quem é o empreendedor? A busca por uma definição do conceito através da produção científica brasileira. Revista Brasileira de Gestão e Inovação, 7(3), 26-62. http://dx.doi.org/10.18226/23190639.v7n3.02
Garçon, M. M. & Nassif, V. M. J. (2021) Entrepreneurship in social: Brazilian university studentstoward a career with purpose. RAUSP Management Journal, 56(3), 366-381. https://doi.org/10.1108/RAUSP-10-2020-0248
Hadžić, M., & Dinç, S. M. (2016). The relationship among personal background, personality traits, environmental factors and entrepreneurial intention of women in northern Montenegro. Proceedings Book, 27.
Harlez, Y., & Malagueño, R. (2016). Examining the joint effects of strategic priorities, use of management control systems, and personal background on hospital performance. Management Accounting Research, 30(1), 2-17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mar.2015.07.001
Kinias, I. G. (2013). The Importance of the Entrepreneurial Background in the Detection and the Utilization of the Information. Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences, 73(1), 564-572. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sbspro.2013.02.092
Lee, S. Y., Florida, R., & Acs, Z. (2004). Creativity and entrepreneurship: A regional analysis of new firm formation. Regional Studies, 38(8), 879-891.
Lima, L. G. de, Nassif, V. M. J., & Garçon, M. M. (2020). O Poder do Capital Psicológico: A Força das Crenças no Comportamento Empreendedor. Revista De Administração Contemporânea, 24(4), 317-334. https://doi.org/10.1590/1982-7849rac2020180226
Marques, N., Sbragia, R., Oliveira Junior, M., & Borini, F. (2020). Entrepreneur’s background and product innovation. Management Research: The Journal of the Iberoamerican Academy of Management, 18(2), 153-169. https://doi.org/10.1108/MRJIAM-11-2018-0878
Paes, N. N., Camargo Neto, R. P., Moraes, I. S., & Menezes, G. R. (2019). Determinantes do empreendedorismo no Rio Grande do Sul. SINERGIA - Revista do Instituto de Ciências Econômicas, Administrativas e Contábeis, 23(2), 59-68. https://doi.org/10.17648/sinergia-2236-7608-v23n2-8738
Pereira Junior, E. F. Z. (2020). Background do empreendedor: proposta e validação de um modelo. (Dissertação de Mestrado, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande). https://bdtd.ibict.br/vufind/Record/FURG_018097a56513bed76718d8b867bec56b
Pirhadi, H., Soleimanof, S., & Feyzbakhsh, A. (2023). Unpacking entrepreneurial alertness: How character matters for entrepreneurial thinking. Journal of Small Business Management, 61(1), 155-186.
Popelka, C. A., Fanslow, A. M., & Littrell, M. A. (1992). Profiles of success: Mexican textile handcraft entrepreneurs and their businesses. Home Economics Research Journal, 20(1), 235-253. https://doi.org/10.1177/1077727X9202000401
Schumpeter, J. A. (1934) Theory of Economic Development. Cambridge: Harvard University Press.
Uemura, M. R. B., Vasconcellos, L., & Silva, L. H. D. (2023). Educação Empreendedora na Educação Básica: uma revisão sistemática da literatura. Revista de Ciências da Administração, 25(65), 1-22. https://doi.org/10.5007/2175-8077.2023.e86177
Wang, C. L., Tee, D. D., & Ahmed, P. K. (2012). Entrepreneurial leadership and context in Chinese firms: A tale of two Chinese private enterprises. Asia Pacific Business Review, 18(4), 505-530. https://doi.org/10.1080/13602381.2012.690257
Weng Y. H., Kuo K. N., Yang C. Y., Lo H. L., Chen C., Chiu Y. W. (2013) Implementation of evidence-based practice across medical, nursing, pharmacological and allied healthcare professionals: a questionnaire survey in nationwide hospital settings. Implement Sci. 8(1) 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1186/1748-5908-8-112
Westley, F. (1991). Bob Geldof and Live Aid: The Affective Side of Global Social Innovation. Human Relations, 44(10), 1011-1036. https://doi.org/10.1177/001872679104401001
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2025 Errol Fernando Zepka Pereira Junior, Livia Castro D'Avila, Guilherme Lerch Lunardi, Alisson de Moraes Bastos

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
The author must ensure:
- that there is complete consensus among all co-authors to approve the final version of the paper and its submission for publication.
- that their work is original, and if the work and/or words of others have been used, these have been duly acknowledged.
Plagiarism in all its forms constitutes unethical publishing behavior and is unacceptable. RCA reserves the right to use software or any other methods of plagiarism detection.
All submissions received for evaluation in the RCA journal are screened for plagiarism and self-plagiarism. Plagiarism identified in manuscripts during the evaluation process will result in the submission being archived. In the event of plagiarism being identified in a manuscript published in the journal, the Editor-in-Chief will conduct a preliminary investigation and, if necessary, retract it.
Authors grant RCA exclusive rights of first publication, with the work simultaneously licensed under the Creative Commons (CC BY) 4.0 International License.

Authors are authorized to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the version of the work published in this journal (e.g., publishing in an institutional repository, on a personal website, publishing a translation, or as a chapter in a book), with an acknowledgement of its authorship and initial publication in this journal.
This license grants any user the right to:
Share – copy, download, print, or redistribute the material in any medium or format.
Adapt – remix, transform, and build upon the material for any purpose, even commercially.
According to the following terms:
Attribution – You must give appropriate credit (cite and reference), provide a link to the license, and indicate if changes were made. You may do so in any reasonable manner, but not in any way that suggests the licensor endorses you or your use.
No additional restrictions – You may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from doing anything the license permits.