In a nutshell
Business, innovation, and platform ecosystems each work differently, and understanding how they operate and change is essential for making smart decisions and finding success in entrepreneurship.
The term “ecosystem” is one of those buzzwords that gets thrown around a lot in entrepreneurship circles without making a whole lot of sense. As a metaphor, it’s easy enough to grasp – think prairies, rainforests, or coral reefs. But why exactly do we use this metaphor for entrepreneurship? What does a “business ecosystem” or “platform ecosystem” actually look like in practice, and why does any of this matter?
In this 2024 study published in Biomimetics, the authors tackle this very question by borrowing ideas from nature and showing how similar dynamics play out in entrepreneurial contexts. They explore three types of ecosystems you’ve probably heard of: business, innovation, and platform; then, drawing on over 30 years of research, they unpack what these ecosystems mean, where they overlap, and, more importantly, how they’re different.
Like their natural counterparts, entrepreneurial ecosystems thrive on openness, collaboration, and diversity, but each type has its own quirks. Business ecosystems are the networks of firms collaborating (and sometimes competing) to create value together. Think supply chains, strategic alliances, or the tech world’s sprawling partnerships. Innovation ecosystems are all about ideas – places where universities, start-ups, and investors come together to make breakthroughs happen. Platform ecosystems, on the other hand, are where producers and consumers meet, often facilitated by some kind of digital or physical platform – your Ubers, Airbnbs, and app stores.
Publication Date: April 4, 2024
Authors: Zhe Liu, Zichen Li, Yudong Zhang, Anthony N. Mutukumira, Yichen Feng, Yangjie Cui, Shuzhe Wang, Jiaji Wang, and Shuihua Wang
Institutions: School of Management, Henan University of Technology, China; School of Computing and Mathematical Sciences, University of Leicester, UK; Department of Information Technology, King Abdulaziz University, Saudi Arabia; School of Food and Advanced Technology, Massey University, New Zealand
Study Type: Systematic Literature Review
Sample Size: Analysis of literature from 1993 to 2023
Research Focus: Examining the definitions, commonalities, and distinctions among business, innovation, and platform ecosystems.
Research Methodology: Hybrid approach combining bibliometric and content analyses to systematically review existing literature.
Main Findings: The study reveals that business, innovation, and platform ecosystems share traits like openness and collaboration but differ in purpose and participants. Business ecosystems create value through networks, innovation ecosystems drive breakthroughs via knowledge-sharing, and platform ecosystems connect producers and consumers.
Citation: Liu, Z., Li, Z., Zhang, Y., Mutukumira, A.N., Feng, Y., Cui, Y., Wang, S., Wang, J., & Wang, S. (2024). “Comparing Business, Innovation, and Platform Ecosystems: A Systematic Review of the Literature.” Biomimetics, 9(4), 216. https://doi.org/10.3390/biomimetics9040216
For entrepreneurs, this isn’t just academic theory – it’s a guide. Understanding ecosystems is like having a cheat sheet for how to navigate today’s interconnected business world. Founders who get this can strategically position their ventures, pick the right networks to join, and develop the skills that matter most for their type of ecosystem. For instance, if you’re a start-up working on an innovative product, you’ll likely find yourself in an innovation ecosystem, where you’ll need to forge partnerships with researchers or R&D labs. If you’re building a platform-based business, you’ll want to focus on understanding network effects and growing a vibrant user base.
The study also makes a strong case for educators, telling us that perhaps ecosystem literacy should be a priority in entrepreneurship education, since each type of ecosystem demands different skills and approaches. Collaborative problem-solving? Great for innovation ecosystems. Tech-savviness and an eye for user engagement? Essential for platform ecosystems. Additionally, ecosystems don’t sit still – they evolve. Educators can prepare their students for this by teaching them how to monitor trends and adapt to ecosystem changes, for example to something like how the rise of AI is currently reshaping platform ecosystems.
This study goes beyond the buzzwords and offers entrepreneurs and educators a practical framework to understand ecosystems as living, changing systems – not fixed structures, and that while ecosystems might share certain traits, their differences matter. Whether you’re leveraging collaborations, adapting to technological advances, or just figuring out where you fit in, this research provides a roadmap for navigating an increasingly interconnected world.
Did you notice?
As part of our Research Recap series, we’re now mixing in some of the field’s most influential studies — the papers that have shaped entrepreneurship education over the years. These foundational works continue to inform how we teach, research, and think about the field. By bringing them into the Research Recap format, we’re making sure they stay visible, accessible, and ready to be built upon.
