The entrepreneurial orientation of LGBT Brazilian start-ups: Context and antecedents

Understanding the context and the antecedents of the entrepreneurship of minorities have attracted the interest of researchers in recent years, even though few studies have focused on the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transvestite, Transsexual or Transgender (LGBT) minorities. In keeping with this shortcoming, the objectives of this study involve identifying the context and the antecedents of the entrepreneurial orientation (EO) of LGBT minority entrepreneurs through a qualitative study deploying semi-structured interviews with six Brazilian entrepreneurs belonging to this minority community. A qualitative methodology was carried out based on the content analysis of interviews and its relationship with the theoretical framework. Based on the framework of theories on marginalization and individual entrepreneurial orientation (IEO), the results demonstrate that in most cases, this type of LGBT entrepreneur experiences discrimination in socio-normative working environments, which may directly or indirectly shape their interests in entrepreneurship. The results also reflect how entrepreneurship becomes interconnected with a feeling of liberation felt by these individuals in openly declaring their sexuality and fostering the confidence capable of motivating them for entrepreneurship. This study furthermore identifies how the pursuit of success in this minority needs to apply a broader perspective than simply status or financial goals while also contributing with a proposed conceptual model and suggestions for future research studies.