Unicorns & Gazelles
What’s a unicorn?
A startup valued at $1 billion or more.
Why are everyday entrepreneurs 'the 99%'?
They make up the vast majority of entrepreneurs.
Name two dichotomies criticized in the article.
Opportunity vs. necessity, growth vs. lifestyle, formal vs. informal, men vs. women.
What is the mainstream measure of success in entrepreneurship?
Wealth & job creation.
Why are gazelles important?
They are fast-growing firms often linked to job creation.
What is meant by “research ghettos”?
Marginalized groups studied separately (women, migrants, necessity entrepreneurs).
Why are dichotomies harmful?
They oversimplify and devalue certain entrepreneurs.
What is the “lamp-post” metaphor?
Looking for answers where they are easier to find, not where they/reality can truly be found.
Why is focusing on mainly unicorns when conducting research a problem?
They’re rare, so it ignores the 99% of everyday entrepreneurs.
Why are everyday entrepreneurs sometimes referred to as the ‘others’ in research?
Because they’re often marginalized or excluded from mainstream theories that focus on rare high-growth firms.
Why is labeling entrepreneurs as ‘necessity’ vs. ‘opportunity’ misleading?
Because motivations change over time, and necessity ventures can also innovate and grow — the categories oversimplify reality.
What contexts should research pay more attention to?
In diverse, everyday, and perhaps 'ignored'/overlooked contexts.