Research Symposium

BIO

Matteo Darcy is a freshman Honors Finance student and a Presidential Scholar at Florida State University. As a freshman, Matteo is very active on campus; involved in the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program, the Finance Society, and the Business Case Club.
For the UROP project, Matteo is working with Dr. Santos of the Jim Moran College of Entrepreneurship. They are studying the entrepreneurship process of low-income first-time entrepreneurs and the specific challenges they face. Currently, Matteo's goal after graduating is to complete the MSF program at FSU.

How do Entrepreneurs Launch and Scale their Businesses​ in the Context of Economic Adversity and Poverty​

Abstract

Entrepreneurs in low-income and economically challenging
environments commonly operate under major constraints such as limited
financial resources, weak institutional support, and small opportunity
horizons. Regardless, many of these entrepreneurs can launch and scale
their businesses despite the challenging conditions. This research
explores how entrepreneurs can navigate economic adversity and identify
the application of strategies they used to achieve sustainability in their
business environment. ​

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The study focuses on topics such as adaptation of business models,
making use of limited resources, creating a network, and leveraging that
connection. It also examines the personal experience of resilience,
learning, and opportunity recognition and application. By collecting the
lived experience of entrepreneurs working under multiple frames of
constraint, this research moves beyond conventional growth models that
are commonly used to maintain stable economic conditions. The findings
are directed at finding insights for entrepreneurs, policymakers, and
other organizations seeking to assist business growth in more
economically challenged communities.

Keywords: Entrepreneurship, Low-income, LEAP, Businesses