The Impact of Digital Entrepreneurship Factors on Equitable Economic Development: A Case from India

Digital entrepreneurship (DE) is experiencing significant growth, with the long-term sustainability of these businesses closely tied to the entrepreneurial skills of their founders. Various factors fuel the entrepreneurial drive, ensuring satisfaction and engagement in their endeavors. It is widely argued that a country’s capacity for fostering DE relies on its cultural values, educational system, supportive ecosystem, and backing from the government and business entities, collectively contributing to the overall sustainability of the economy. The acceptance of DE from an economic and technological standpoint plays a crucial role in creating an environment conducive to institutional change, thereby preventing regulatory capture. Digital entrepreneurs are pivotal in disseminating knowledge and introducing innovative business practices. Many nations, particularly in the West, recognize DE as a critical driver of economic growth, job creation, and modernization. This study operates through three distinct phases: identifying factors, conducting expert interviews, and crafting a Decision-Making Threat and Opportunity (DMTOP) framework. By amalgamating 23 chosen factors derived from prior literature and expert suggestions, the study categorizes these factors into six dimensions. The framework is applied to ascertain the impact of these factors on both urban and rural settings. The intention is to evaluate the influence of these diverse factors on DE. The resulting insights are anticipated to significantly aid policymakers in achieving their DE objectives. The framework delineates seven dimensions, each with differing impacts on urban and rural infrastructures. These factors collectively contribute to a 47.82 percent overall impact on existing urban facilities while exhibiting a −13.04 percent on the rural side.