Internal and external drivers of social entrepreneurship: a comparison of base of the pyramid and more affluent social entrepreneurs

Abstract

Purpose – This study aims to examine how internal and external drivers of social entrepreneurship vary across socioeconomic contexts, comparing entrepreneurs from Brazil’s base of the pyramid (BoP) and more affluent groups. Although social entrepreneurship is often framed as a mechanism to address inequality, limited empirical research has analyzed how structural conditions shape entrepreneurial drivers. The study investigates six drivers: entrepreneurial orientation, prosocial motivation, life satisfaction, networking ability, environmental hostility and access to financial capital. Design/methodology/approach – The study adopts a quantitative survey design based on data from 101 Brazilian social entrepreneurs (41 BoP and 60 non-BoP). Established scales were used to operationalize the drivers. Group differences were examined using t-tests, with Wilcoxon tests applied to ensure robustness. Findings – BoP and non-BoP social entrepreneurs exhibit similar prosocial motivation, challenging assumptions that BoP entrepreneurship is necessity-driven. However, BoP entrepreneurs report lower risk-taking, proactiveness and networking ability, alongside reduced access to financial capital and higher perceived environmental hostility. These patterns suggest that structural inequalities constrain entrepreneurial behavior and limit innovation and scaling. Research limitations/implications – Limitations include sample size, reliance on self-reported measures and the use of territorial location as a proxy for BoP status. Practical implications – The findings highlight the need for context-sensitive support mechanisms, including inclusive finance, network-building initiatives and risk mitigation strategies. Social implications – The study reframes BoP entrepreneurs as agents of social change while highlighting structural constraints that limit their impact. Originality/value – The study advances a contextually embedded perspective and challenges deficit-based representations of BoP entrepreneurs.