Digital Entrepreneurship in the Post-Pandemic Business Environment

Abstract

Digital entrepreneurship is booming. Online shopping, the gig economy, direct-to-consumer (D2C) brands, and other new business models still attract significant public interest and venture funding in the aftermath of COVID-19 (SECUNDO et al., 2021). The pandemic fundamentally reshaped the global economy, amplifying existing trends and accelerating the exploration of digital opportunities in distribution and delivery. More than three years have elapsed since the onset of the pandemic, yet fundamental shifts continue. Digital entrepreneurship has emerged as a prominent opportunity space for economic activity post-2020. Governments in various markets have instituted policies and programs to promote, facilitate, and stimulate digital entrepreneurship.

Digital transformation is fast becoming a core capability and competency for businesses across all sectors. Digital entrepreneurship is at the forefront of this transformation and the COVID-19 pandemic has clarified the role of digital capability as core competency. In an analysis of multiple markets, firms, and industries, digital capability emerges as a foundational competitive advantage. Digital platforms, data-driven culture, agile execution, streamlined processes, and ecosystem orchestration are the principal components for developing and sustaining the capability over time.