Understanding the socio-economic impacts of digital entrepreneurship has broadened my view of business beyond profit. I used to think entrepreneurship was mainly about innovation and financial success, but this module has shown me how digital ventures can influence society in profound ways — both positively and negatively.
On the positive side, digital entrepreneurship is helping close economic gaps by enabling individuals from underprivileged or remote backgrounds to access global markets. For instance, a rural artisan with internet access can now sell products internationally through platforms like Etsy or Shopify. This fosters inclusive economic participation, creates new income streams, and contributes to local development (Soltanifar, Hughes and Lutz, 2021).
Digital entrepreneurship also drives job creation and skills development in emerging tech sectors, from AI to app development. Moreover, platforms like Coursera and Udemy empower individuals to reskill themselves and participate in the digital economy without needing formal education systems (Keyhani et al., 2022).
However, there are also critical downsides. Gig economy platforms often blur the line between independence and exploitation, offering flexibility but lacking job security and benefits. There’s also the risk of widening the digital divide, where those without access to reliable technology or digital literacy are further marginalised (Rachinger et al., 2018).
Reflecting on this, I now see digital entrepreneurship as a tool with both power and responsibility. As a future entrepreneur, I want to design ventures that don’t just scale economically but contribute to inclusive, ethical, and sustainable growth — especially in communities that risk being left behind.
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