Microfinance and entrepreneurship: An introduction

Abstract

As microfinance gains increasing attention and application as a financing mechanism for entrepreneurs at the base of the economic pyramid, this special issue of International Small Business Journal aims to enhance scholarly understanding of how microfinance fosters entrepreneurial activity. Microfinance brings a range of financial services, including microcredit loans, savings, and insurance, within the reach of millions and millions of poor households not served by traditional banks. This introduction summarizes the articles in this special issue of International Small Business Journal on "Microfinance," which address a range of topics in this important domain of research and practice.2

Efficiency-centered, innovation-enabling business models of high tech SMEs: Evidence from Hong Kong

“…Although innovation and new venture creation may be modest in form, this is nonetheless a core activity of many high-tech, higher growth SMEs (Ahlstrom & Bruton, 2002;Chen, Chang, & Bruton, 2017;Newman, Schwarz, & Ahlstrom, 2017).…”

New methods of entrepreneurial firm financing: Fintech, crowdfunding and corporate governance implications

“…These developments have given rise to a veritable explosion of new research on crowdfunding, financial technology (fintech), and other alternative methods of start-up financing (Cumming & Hornuf, 2018;Short, Ketchen, McKenny, Allison, & Ireland, 2017). This work has emerged in a variety of fields that include but are not limited to entrepreneurship, finance, marketing, information systems, law, and strategy (Ahlers, Cumming, Günther, & Schweizer, 2015;Mollick, 2014;Newman, Schwarz, & Ahlstrom, 2017;Steinhart, Gao, & Fan, 2017).…”

Regulation of the Crypto-Economy: Managing Risks, Challenges, and Regulatory Uncertainty

“…Given that cryptocurrencies like bitcoin operate independently of geographic location or central banks, Blockchain can thus allow entrepreneurs from virtually anywhere in the world access to startup funds and developmental capital. What microfinance and other disruptive funding methods started (Bonini et al 2019;Newman et al 2017), blockchain technology can bring much further along. Blockchain can be a major facilitator of entrepreneurship, which is a crucial part of a growing economy (Tomizawa et al 2019).…”