Entrepreneurship Ecosystem of Cooperatives in Mexico City

Abstract

This study enhances our understanding of entrepreneurial ecosystems in Mexico City, emphasizing their crucial roles in fostering cooperative activity within specific contexts. It delves into the intricate interplay of ecosystem elements and their interconnectedness, shedding light on how it shapes entrepreneurial ventures in the region. We used a qualitative methodological approach and conducted semi-structured interviews defined from theoretical analysis and snowball sampling to identify key local actors, how they interact, and what obstacles they face. Our data show that the ecosystem comprises many actors, such as social economy organizations, civil society, beneficiaries, and alternative markets, as well as such diverse elements as the regulatory framework, public policies, and financing programs. The actors who have the most impact and work most consistently with cooperatives are the academy, cooperative unions, and government entities. All of them actively interact with each other, but we underscore the need for greater dynamism to enhance entrepreneurial activity.