Evaluating the Health of Iran's Entrepreneurial Ecosystem: Policy Insights from an Empirical Study

Rajabzadeh, Mahsa; Roshani, Saeed; Golabgirha, Fatemeh

doi:10.22034/sspp.2024.2045834.3739

Evaluating the Health of Iran's Entrepreneurial Ecosystem: Policy Insights from an Empirical Study

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors

Mahsa Rajabzadeh ¹

saeed Roshani ²

Fatemeh Golabgirha ²

¹ Allameh Tabataba&#039;i University

² Amirkabir University of Technology

10.22034/sspp.2024.2045834.3739

Abstract

This study aims to assess the health of Iran's entrepreneurial ecosystem by examining its three main dimensions: connectivity, business domain distribution, and geographic density. Data related to startups, accelerators, and venture capital funds were collected, and social network analysis methods were employed to evaluate connectivity levels. Additionally, Shannon entropy and Rao-Stirling diversity indices were used to measure the diversity of business domains, while the density of startups per 1,000 people across various provinces was calculated. The findings reveal that only 27% of ecosystem components are part of a connected network, indicating a very low overall level of connectivity. In terms of diversity, 6 out of 24 major business domains exhibit high diversity, while the remaining domains lack balance and variety. Moreover, the ecosystem is heavily concentrated in Tehran Province, with other provinces contributing minimally. The results suggest that poor connectivity and extreme geographic concentration threaten the health and sustainability of the ecosystem. Policy interventions aimed at increasing diversity, distribution, and collaboration among ecosystem components are urgently needed.

Keywords

Ecosystem health

Resilience

Connectedness

Startup

Health measurement

Subjects