eBusiness Weekly
Dr Keen Mhlanga
The face of entrepreneurship is changing. While the classic image of an entrepreneur might be a solo hustler working long hours in a garage, today`s entrepreneurs are often part of larger teams, using technology to scale their businesses and reach a global audience.
And while in the past, most entrepreneurs were men, today there are more and more women and people of colour starting their own businesses. In this article, we will explore the ways in which entrepreneurship is evolving and what this means for the future of business.
First, there is a great change in the demographics of entrepreneurs. There are more women, people of colour and immigrants starting businesses than ever before. In fact, the number of women-owned businesses in the US has increased by 114 percent since 1997, and the number of minority-owned businesses has increased by 79 percent.
This trend is likely due to a number of factors, including increased access to capital, more flexible work arrangements, and a growing desire for more control over one`s career. In the past, it was often difficult for women and minorities to get the funding they needed to start a business.
But today, there are more options available, including microloans, crowdfunding and venture capital specifically targeted at these groups. Additionally, there are more resources and support available, including incubators and accelerators that help new businesses get off the ground.
Flexible work arrangements, including remote work, freelance work and part-time work, have made it easier for more people to start their own businesses.
For example, someone who has a full-time job but also wants to start a side hustle can do so without giving up their main source of income. Additionally, parents who need to balance work with childcare responsibilities may find flexible work arrangements to be a good fit.
This trend is being further enabled by advances in technology, including cloud-based tools that make it easy to work from anywhere.
Many people are starting their own businesses because they want more control over their work and their lives. This might mean the ability to set their own hours, choose their own projects or simply have more say in the direction of their career.
Additionally, for some, the desire to start their own business is driven by a desire to make a positive impact on the world. They may want to start a social enterprise that addresses a specific social or environmental issue, or create a business that is focused on sustainability or giving back to the community.
Second, the side hustle and the gig economy have both grown significantly in recent years. The side hustle refers to a job that someone does in addition to their main job, often for extra income or to pursue a passion project.
The gig economy, on the other hand, refers to the growing trend of people working on a contract or freelance basis, rather than as traditional employees.
The rise of the side hustle and the gig economy has been driven by a number of factors, including the desire for more control and flexibility in one`s work life, as well as the rise of platforms like Uber, Airbnb and Etsy that make it easy to find work and connect with customers. This has created opportunities for people to make money in ways that were not possible before.
Third, technology had a huge impact on entrepreneurship in recent years. For example, advances in cloud computing have made it easier for people to start businesses without the need for large upfront investments in things like servers and office space.
Social media has also made it easier for entrepreneurs to reach and connect with customers and potential investors. Additionally, the growth of online marketplace like Amazon and Etsy has created new opportunities for entrepreneurs to sell their products.
Moreover, social entrepreneurship refers to businesses that are focused on solving social or environmental problems, rather than simply generating profit. Impact investing is a similar concept, but refers specifically to investing in businesses that have a positive social or environmental impact.
These are both relatively new concepts, but they are growing rapidly. Social entrepreneurs and impact investors are finding new ways to address some of the world`s most pressing problems, while also generating a profit.
There are many specific examples of how the face of entrepreneurship is changing. For example, the traditional model of starting a business with a physical location is no longer the only option. Today, many businesses are operating entirely online.
Additionally, the use of automation and artificial intelligence is allowing entrepreneurs to streamline their operations and focus on more creative and strategic tasks. Finally, the rise of sharing economy is changing the way people do business, with more people working as independent contractors rather than traditional employees.
The impact of the changing face of entrepreneurship is having a number of effects on society. For example, the rise of online businesses has led to a shift in the nature of work, with more people working remotely and from home.
This can have both positive and negative effects, such as increased flexibility but also isolation. Additionally, the rise of sharing economy is having a significant impact on traditional industries, such as transportation and hospitality.
Finally, social entrepreneurship is leading to the development of new solutions to some of society`s most pressing problems, such as poverty and climate change.
In conclusion, the face of entrepreneurship is changing rapidly, due to a combination of technological, social, and economic factors.
This is having a significant impact on society, creating new opportunities and challenges for individuals and businesses. The effects of these changes are likely to continue in the future, leading to a transformed landscape of entrepreneurs. It will be interesting to see how this transformation continues to unfold in the coming years.
Dr Keen Mhlanga is an Investment Advisor with high skills in Finance. He is the Executive Chairman of FinKing Financial Advisory. Send your feedback to [email protected], contact him on 0777597526.
