This book discussed the main trends and challenges in digital entrepreneurship while also considering specific industry case studies, especially in fintech, manufacturing and fashion. Moreover, alongside the arguments it presented, this book provided an understanding of technologies such as social media, the Internet of Things and blockchain as well as innovation as a specific attitude, all of which it identified as being integral to successful entrepreneurship. Thus, it looked at how large organizations innovate through the acquisition of start-ups and/or the creation of innovation hubs to sustain their competitive advantage in the market. The chapter also offered some final discussions as well as concluding remarks derived from the digital trends and practices analyzed in this volume.

The Internet of Things (IoT) plays a vital role in the implementation and success of digital entrepreneurship. The IoT refers to the interconnection of smart devices, physical devices, buildings as well as other objects and devices that have inherent software, electronics, actuators, network connectivity and sensors that make it possible for these objects and devices to exchange and collect data. The use of the IoT for entrepreneurship can bring about a level playing field in various sectors of the economy in which opportunities such as working remotely at any time and on-the-go are created. This chapter gives a clear understanding of the IoT, its advantages for digital entrepreneurship as well as its potential future.

This chapter discusses how effective entrepreneurial education can help in developing students’ skills to enable them to become successful entrepreneurs. It first sheds light on the main skills and abilities that any entrepreneur needs in order to establish, run and maintain a prosperous start-up with long-term success. Then it describes the journey to becoming an entrepreneur, from spotting a problem-based opportunity to building a successful and sustainable start-up. Next, it explains the entrepreneurial education process and its importance for economic growth and sustainability. Based on that, the next sections elaborate on the main success factors of any entrepreneurial educational program, and what e-leadership skills are required by the different groups of stakeholders concerned with the innovation process. The chapter lists some of the main challenges that face the creation of entrepreneurial education courses and discusses some best practices that can help tackle these challenges. Furthermore, this chapter elaborates on a case study of well-planned entrepreneurial education based on successful and mutually beneficial collaboration with industry.

The fashion industry is going through swift digital transformation while reducing the barriers to entry. Fashion is not only changing at a fast pace but reaching a wide range of people globally through the advent of mobile phones, social media and the Internet. The digitization of the fashion industry has made a significant impact on how we collect product information, find the best deals and make purchases, especially in the retail sector. Through the use of virtual robots, interactive mirrors, e-retail shops and social networking sites, consumers now have more autonomy without depending on store personnel for price and product guidance. Moreover, advances in 3D models by luxury fashion brands are proof of the level of technological sophistication that fashion organizations are willing to adapt to satisfy the growing and varying desires of their customers. This chapter addresses the impact of digitization on the fashion industry as well as its effects on consumer behavior. In addition, the innovative facets of fashion are discussed with real-world case studies from three fashion brands: Ermenegildo Zegna, Smithfield Case and Uniqlo.

This chapter discusses the world of financial technology, or fintech, which can be defined as the intersection of financial services and digital technologies. The fintech ecosystem involves a wide range of players that together have transformed the financial services industry, embraced and stimulated innovation and continuously improved customer experience. This chapter provides an in-depth macro analysis of the global fintech industry, describing the current status of the market as well as highlighting current and future trends for the sector. Further, the chapter discusses the impact of digitalization on fintech firms by delineating the opportunities as well as the challenges that it has brought. The last section of the chapter includes two fintech cases studies belonging to the currently “hottest” sub-segments of the sector, namely, “insurtech” and “realtech,” in each case highlighting the main characteristics of the application or platform, presenting the founding team and describing the main company competitiveness indicators for time-to-market as well as user value.

Manufacturing is defined as the process of transforming raw materials, parts or components into finished goods or products for sale to customers whose expectations or requirements the goods or products meet. Employment of labor (man) and machinery, as the case may be, is vital in manufacturing. Macro analysis refers to how the economic activities of existing firms and government economic policies can affect the overall output, price levels and employment and growth rates of an economy. These models and experiential pieces of information also help to clarify how to maintain both internal and external economic stability in the short run. Economists are hugely interested in the factors that play a role in the economic growth of a country, as these can bring about more job opportunities and make goods and services more affordable, thereby raising people’s standard of living in that country. This chapter gives a thorough insight into the macro analysis of manufacturing industries and how important digitalization is to their improvement, in part by discussing two case studies.

Digitalization has been a driver of transformation in business and society, leading to radical changes in the ideas and shapes of what work is, what organizations are and how value can be captured and created. One of the key issues of digitalization has been its capacity to enforce new ecosystems and the consequent rise of a new breed of entrepreneurs and ventures exploiting the opportunity of digital business. Therefore, this book discusses and presents the main challenges and trends related to digital entrepreneurship to an audience of managers and scholars. Moreover, this volume aims to provide a unified survey of both practice and current scientific work on the topic, considering the key issues for strategy and management as well as the role of technology in developing new digital ventures. Thus, as in my previous volumes, I will consider different perspectives, from information systems, technology management and innovation research to strategy and marketing, among others.