Over the last few years, rural entrepreneurship has claimed its stake in the international cooperation agenda – and there are clear reasons for this. Entrepreneurship creates jobs and generates income and wealth; it makes staying in rural areas an attractive proposition for young people and helps them build confidence and status. Rural entrepreneurs can contribute to coping with today’s environmental challenges. They are able to promote the circular economy and assist in safeguarding the environment, thereby adding value to the abundant natural resources of rural areas. This is above all important for those living together with and from nature, such as indigenous communities. And last, but not least, entrepreneurship is regarded as a vital tool for women’s empowerment.

The factors determining whether young enterprises are successful and can hold their own on the market can generally be divided into two categories: the entrepreneurial mindset and various skills of the (future) entrepreneurs themselves, and the framework conditions in which they are acting, such as the legal environment, infrastructure, training possibilities and, above all, access to finance. Social values and norms play a crucial role too, especially when it comes to women entrepreneurs making progress. Referring to their projects, our authors and interview partners show what helps young enterprises in rural areas to become successful, what helped them achieve their own aspirations, and where they see shortcomings.

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