Redesigning entrepreneurial ecosystems for inclusive growth in the Global South

In the face of persistent inequality and systemic exclusion, the Allan Gray Orbis Foundation (AGOF) has issued a clarion call for the radical redesign of entrepreneurial ecosystems in the Global South.

As a notable voice in this crucial discourse, Charleen Duncan, Head of Public Affairs and Communications at AGOF, spotlighted the barriers that hinder entrepreneurs from marginalised backgrounds, suggesting that current systems favour a privileged few while sidelining the many.

Addressing global delegates at the recent Aspen Network of Development Entrepreneurs (ANDE) Conference in Mexico, Duncan articulated a stark reality: “Prevailing global systems perpetuate exclusionary privilege and place unfair expectations on startup entrepreneurs from marginalised backgrounds to play by rules that were never designed to include them.” This inequity, she asserts, necessitates a transformative approach in which opportunities are normalised for all, not just a select few.

The flawed systems at play

“Current systems perpetuate exclusion of marginalised entrepreneurs by default,” Duncan explained.

“They are designed around access for already connected networks and inherited norms. Success in today's landscape demands conformity, pushing entrepreneurs to adapt to dominant models to be seen as viable.”

This power dynamic, wherein resources and decision-making are concentrated among a small elite, demands urgent re-evaluation.

According to Duncan, real change should involve fundamental shifts in system design. She advocates a “baked-in” approach to diversity, emphasising the importance of building entrepreneurial frameworks that inherently include historically excluded groups rather than retrofitting existing structures to accommodate them.

“We also need to redefine value,” she added, “by honouring alternative forms of entrepreneurship such as community-based and informal enterprises.”

Towards equitable entrepreneurship

To genuinely empower entrepreneurs, it is essential to foster partnerships that facilitate shared power rather than perpetuate gatekeeping.

“We must invest in platforms that allow for co-creation and community ownership,” Duncan urged, pointing out that entrepreneurship should be viewed not merely as an economic endeavour, but as a pathway to agency where individuals and communities thrive.

This radical rethinking extends to AGOF’s initiatives in South Africa, where the foundation has implemented a pipeline model aimed at instilling entrepreneurial skills from a young age.

By embedding entrepreneurship into the basic education curriculum, AGOF seeks to cultivate a generation of innovators who are not only equipped with knowledge but also possess the emotional and psychological resilience necessary to navigate the complexities of entrepreneurship.

“The key is to build belonging, communities, identity, and support,” said Duncan, highlighting the need for entrepreneurs to have access not only to seed capital but also to mentors, peer networks, and long-term backing.

“We need layered support that builds a founder’s capacity—this is a long-term investment approach,” she stressed.

An uncomfortable truth to confront

As Duncan concluded her address, she confronted the audience with a discomforting reality: “The entrepreneurial landscape was built by a few, for a few. The systems, networks, and language of success were shaped to preserve power rather than to share it.”

This revelation serves as a powerful reminder that mere inclusion is insufficient. “True transformation requires not just adding diversity to existing structures but fundamentally rebuilding the foundation,” she asserted.

To effect real change, the narratives around entrepreneurship must shift.

“We must recognise potential exists everywhere, that community capital is just as vital as financial capital, and that the concept of investment-readiness should be taught, not inherited,” acknowledged Duncan.

If the foundation of the entrepreneurial ecosystem remains unchanged, it may lead to an endless cycle of superficial fixes that fail to address the underlying issues.

BUSINESS REPORT