BEST PAPER AWARDS
Best Paper Award Winners from the 2025 BCERC
(Presented at the 2026 BCERC)
National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Award for best paper in the general category winner was: HOW DO FOUNDERS SPLIT THEIR EQUITY? INSIGHT FROM A CONJOINT EXPERIMENT
The paper is authored by: Yannick Amend, Justus-Liebig University Giessen; Petrit Ademi, University of St. Gallen; Monika Schuhmacher, Justus-Liebig University Giessen
Bertarelli Institute for Family Entrepreneurship Award (Babson College) for the Best Paper in the Family Entrepreneurship category winner was: MANAGING DUAL ROLES: COPING WITH WORK-FAMILY CONFLICT AND ENHANCING WELL-BEING OF FAMILY BUSINESS MEMBERS
The paper is authored by: Moonum Zehra, University of Siegen; Adndt Werner, University of Siegen; Meike Stephan, University of Siegen; Sepideh Ghahremani Tehrani, University of Siegen
Means Center for Entrepreneurial Studies Award (Illinois State University) for the Best Paper in the Social Entrepreneurship category winner was: THE ROLE OF PROXIMITY AND POLITICAL IDEOLOGY AS EXTERNAL ENABLERS OF SOCIAL ENTREPRENEURSHIP
The paper is authored by: Mariza Gabriela Lemos Mesquita, Louisiana State University; Joseph Cabral, Louisiana State University
The Institute for Social Innovation Award (Babson College) for the Best Paper on Social Impact winner was: KENYAN PASTORS IN BUSINESS: PATHWAYS FOR SHARING RELIGIOUS FAITH IN ENTREPRENEURSHIP
The paper is authored by: Sean Dwyer, University of Oklahoma; Mitchell Neubert, Baylor University; Reginald Tucker, University of Oklahoma
The G. Dale Meyer Iconoclast Award for a doctoral student who is the lead author on a paper and has demonstrated they pushed the boundaries of existing knowledge in entrepreneurship research was: SPATIAL ANALYSIS OF ENTREPRENEURS' CRIME EXPERIENCE IN AN INFORMAL TOWNSHIP ECONOMY
The paper is authored by: Mohammed Bendaanane, Technical University of Munich
Past Best Paper Award Winners
2024 BCERC Award Winners:
National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Award for best paper in the general category winner was: EMPLOYEE WORK CONDITIONS AND WELL-BEING IN SCALE-UPS
The paper is authored by: Mohamed Genedy, Jönköping International Business School, Johan Wiklund, Syracuse University and Arnold Bakker, Erasmus University Rotterdam
Bertarelli Institute for Family Entrepreneurship Award (Babson College) for the Best Paper in the Family Entrepreneurship category winner was: FROM “RAGS TO RICHES” TO MOBILITY MAINTENANCE: INTERGENERATIONAL SOCIAL MOBILITY AND ENTREPRENEURIAL ENTRY
The paper is authored by: Leif Brändle, University of Hohenheim, Anna-Lena Rönnert, University of Hohenheim and Christopher Sabel, Rotterdam School of Management
Means Center for Entrepreneurial Studies Award (Illinois State University) for the Best Paper in the Social Entrepreneurship category winner was: IMITATING BY EFFECTUATION: VENTURE CREATION IN CONTEXTS OF POVERTY
The paper is authored by: Patrick Shulist, Aalto University, Geoff Kistruck, York University, Dugassa Gerba, Aalto University and Musah Neindow, PARED, Ghana
Tariq Farid Franchise Institute Award (Babson College) for the Best Paper in the Franchising category winner was: FRANCHISING IN THE METAVERSE: ENTREPRENEURIAL PATHWAYS FOR VIRTUAL AND MIXED REALITY
The paper is authored by: Richard Hunt, Virginia Tech, Elham Asgari, Michigan Technical University and S.M. Abidul Islam, Virginia Tech
EQUA Foundation Award for the Best Paper on Entrepreneurial Purpose category winner was: HOW DOES CONFLICT IMPACT (NECESSITY) ENTREPRENEURSHIP?
The paper is authored by: Mirko Hirschmann, University of Luxembourg, Christian Fisch, University of Luxembourg and Paul Momtaz, Technical University of Munich
2023 BCERC Award Winners:
National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) Award for best paper in the general category winner was was: The Deterioration of Self-worth in Entrepreneurship. The paper is authored by: Pablo Muñoz, Durham University, UK, Marieshka Barton, Durham University, UK, and Farzana Chowdhury, Durham University, UK
Bertarelli Institute for Family Entrepreneurship Award (Babson College) for the Best Paper in the Family Entrepreneurship category winner was: An Exploration of Business Ownership, Parenting Styles and Entrepreneurial Persistence. The paper is authored by: Alisa Jno-Charles, Babson College, USA, William Gartner, Babson College, USA, and Angela Randolph, Babson College, USA
Means Center for Entrepreneurial Studies Award (Illinois State University) for the Best Paper in the Social Entrepreneurship category winner was: Alleviated Suffering, Now What? On a Journey from Compassion Venturing to a New Social Venture. The paper is authored by: Anastasia Koptsyukh, Aalto University, Finland, Ewald Kibler, Aalto University, Finland, and Dean A. Shepherd, Notre Dame University, USA