Policy for Sustainable Entrepreneurship: A Crowdsourced Framework

Sustainable entrepreneurship–entrepreneurship with social and ecological gains as well as economic ones–can significantly address societal and environmental challenges. However, it is not clear how policy can best support it, as there is a triple policy disconnect between the generally separate literatures on entrepreneurship policy, sustainability policy and innovation policy. The authors develop a policy framework for sustainable entrepreneurship, using open innovation with entrepreneurs, business executives, academics and policymakers via an online crowdsourcing event involving 150 participants. Through inductive analysis of 1,696 textual contributions to the event, policy measures are identified which are clustered into six policy areas or ‘channels:’ education; networks; diffusion mechanisms; measuring impact; funding; and innovation in policymaking. Primary contributions to entrepreneurship policy literature are in the areas of diffusion mechanisms impact measurement, funding for impact and innovation in policymaking. Also, traditional entrepreneurship policy areas of education, networks and funding are found to have an indirect influence on the supply of sustainable entrepreneurs though raising awareness and skills, providing practical and emotional support to entrepreneurs, and enabling funding and resources to be prioritized to ventures seeking to achieve positive social and environmental impacts. Contributions to sustainability policy literature include the need to empower individuals as entrepreneurs, not just as consumers. An innovative method for crowdsourcing policy recommendations is outlined.