Network Embeddedness, Opportunity Co-Creation, and the Emergence of Entrepreneurial Ecosystems in Emerging Markets

This dissertation develops an original theory of entrepreneurial ecosystem emergence in emerging markets, arguing that ecosystems are not designed by policy but emerge through the cumulative network embeddedness interactions among entrepreneurs, investors, support organisations, and institutional actors who co-create opportunities through their relational activities. Existing ecosystem theory treats ecosystems as relatively stable structures whose components can be mapped and strengthened by policy intervention, but this study argues that in emerging markets, where institutional environments are dynamic and uncertain, ecosystem emergence is better understood as an ongoing social process driven by the relational dynamics of embedded actors. The dissertation employs a longitudinal qualitative process theory design, tracking ecosystem emergence in two Nigerian regional entrepreneurship communities, the Lagos tech ecosystem and the Kano creative economy cluster, over a three-year observation period. Data were collected through 60 semi-structured interviews, six focus groups, continuous social network mapping, and documentary analysis of ecosystem events and publications. Process theory narrative analysis and dynamic network analysis are applied. The core theoretical contribution is the Relational Ecosystem Emergence model, which proposes that ecosystem development is driven by three relational process mechanisms: opportunity co-creation events in which actors jointly identify market spaces neither could exploit independently; trust amplification cycles in which successful collaborative ventures reduce perceived risk for subsequent higher-stakes collaborations; and boundary-spanning actors who bridge previously disconnected network clusters. The model is shown to have predictive validity for both cases and theoretical integration with social capital and opportunity creation theory. Keywords: entrepreneurial ecosystem, network embeddedness, opportunity co-creation, emergence, emerging markets.