Full paper at – Invisible Inequality in Entrepreneurial Ecosystems: The Micro-Foundations of Navigating Marginalization

This research investigates how invisible caste-based inequalities transform entrepreneurial ecosystems into non-cooperative spaces for the Dalit community in India. The authors identify three primary systemic barriers: the moral disqualification of Dalits in financial markets, relational gatekeeping that excludes them from influential social networks, and the constant undermining of their social credibility. To survive these hostile conditions, Dalit entrepreneurs employ specific micro-practices such as targeted advocacy for policy changes and the creation of alternate spaces, including their own chambers of commerce. They also utilise strategic clientelism by building protective alliances with political figures and dominant-caste partners to secure legitimacy. By centering the lived experiences of these marginalised business owners, the study highlights how social hierarchies continue to regulate economic access. Ultimately, it challenges the assumption that ecosystems are neutral support systems and demonstrates how resilient agents actively reshape structures from within.