Iranian Entrepreneurship

This book presents a comprehensive, state-of-the-art portrait of entrepreneurship and small business management issues in Iran, and among the Iranian Diaspora. The major contributions in this book address topics such as innovation, female entrepreneurship, social entrepreneurship, migrant entrepreneurship, corporate entrepreneurship, institutional support of entrepreneurial initiatives and more. This book is the outcome of an extensive research endeavor spanning several years and includes the latest contributions from highly respected authors and experts from Iran and beyond.

Contents Table of Figures xi Lists of Tables xii Foreword xv Preface xvii Chapter One: Towards a phenomenology of the new business world 9 Businesses of the Post-industrial World 15 Doing Business in the Knowledge-Based Economy 17 The Service-oriented Economy 20 Mapping the Future: Higher Education and Business Technology in Iran 21 Chapter Two: Entrepreneurship policies and Dynamics of Innovation and Technology Systems 25 A Conceptual Framework for Entrepreneurship 26 Technological Entrepreneurship in Iran 36 Chapter Three: Writing a Business Plan: Step-by-Step Planning 41 The Basics of Writing a Business Plan 42 The Objectivity and Subjectivity of a Business Idea 43 The Principles of Writing a Business Plan 45 Why Business Growth Strategies Matter 46 One-Page Business Plan 49 The Outline of a Business Plan 50 Writing an Executive Summary 51 Business Model and Philosophy 52 Market Analysis: Macro and Micro Environmental Analysis 58 Human Resource Statement 61 Operational Plan 66 Financial Plan 68 Visualization Techniques 72 Chapter Four: How to become an incubate 84 Business Incubation: What It Is 88 The State of the Art of Business Incubation in Iran 90 From Science Parks to Innovation Districts and High-technology Corridors 93 Science and Research Cities and Parks in Iran 97 Incubators and Accelerators in Iran 109 University-based Entrepreneurship Centres in Iran 128 What Business to Start: Onsite Firms in Iranian Science Parks and Incubators 144 Chapter Five: Get Help and Support for Your Business 158 Business Support Institutions in Iran 163 Glossary of Terms 236 References 239 Index

This book presents the nature, challenges and successful cases of female entrepreneurship in Iran. The first part of the book provides a comprehensive insight into Iran’s entrepreneurship ecosystem and its accessibility for women by exploring and analyzing data from relevant national and international sources, in particular from the Statistical Center of Iran, Global Entrepreneurship Monitor, World Bank (Doing Business, Gender Equality and Development), World Economic Forum (Global Gender Gap Report, Global Competitiveness Report), and the United Nations Development Plan. Trends in entrepreneurial perceptions and intentions, as well as developments in entrepreneurial activity in Iran from 2008 to 2013, are also studied for both genders. In order to establish a benchmark for the relative position of Iranian women in the region, the main related indices are also compared to those in Egypt, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. In turn, the second part of the book highlights selected role models of growth-oriented female Iranian entrepreneurs who have successfully run a variety of traditionally male-dominated businesses in Iran and internationally, despite the hostile business environment and various gender stereotypes.

Iran is estimated to have the third largest informal sector in the MENA region a major source of income for many low-income households whose numbers are growing as sanctions tighten. Gender and Entrepreneurship in Iran provides insight into the role of informal networks in employment creation in Iran from a gender perspective. Drawing upon theories of social capital, social network, and the postcolonial feminist critique of mainstream development, this analysis sheds light on the ways in which poverty and unemployment may be tackled.

Iran is estimated to have the third largest informal sector in the MENA region a major source of income for many low-income households whose numbers are growing as sanctions tighten. Gender and Entrepreneurship in Iran provides insight into the role of informal networks in employment creation in Iran from a gender perspective. Drawing upon theories of social capital, social network, and the postcolonial feminist critique of mainstream development, this analysis sheds light on the ways in which poverty and unemployment may be tackled.

Any country that has attained a suitable station in today's world and positioned itself finely is because of years of ceaseless effort and attitude of the great women and men, who through unrivaled courage and perpetual perseverance, have left an aesthetically splendid legacy for all to live and abide by. In the world of trade and entrepreneurship in Iran, a large number of wonderful and decent folks, be it in pre- or post-revolutionary years, have labored intensely to enable the constant growth of the country's economy, and create job opportunities for the masses.Dr. Reza Yadegari and his esteemed wife, Ms. Mahshid Sanaee fard, are the only researcher couple actively involved in the Iranian entrepreneurial scene ever since 1997 when they were in their 20s. The highly distinguished and academically accredited wife and husband have spent a better part of their lives researching the greatest Iranian entrepreneurs, and as result have conducted interviews with over five hundred such top-notch entrepreneurs across the country. Their valuable works and acclaimed books have earned them many prestigious awards including the 'Jalal Al-e-Ahmad Prize.' Finally, the Doctor and his kind wife's overall goal and the objective is to introduce the Iranian economy and entrepreneurs to the rest of the world.

The Emerald Handbook of Women and Entrepreneurship in Developing Economies examines women's role in entrepreneurial practices in a range of developing countries and applies unique strategic contextual frameworks to analyse, interpret and understand individual processes, themes and issues.

The Iranian revolution of 1978–1979 uprooted and globally dispersed an enormous number of Iranians from all walks of life. Bitter political relations between Iran and the West have since caused those immigrants to be stigmatized, marginalized, and politicized, which, in turn, has discredited and distorted Iranian migrants’ social identity; subjected them to various subtle and overt forms of prejudice, discrimination, and social injustice; and pushed them to the edges of their host societies. The Iranian Diaspora presents the first global overview of Iranian migrants’ experiences since the revolution, highlighting the similarities and differences in their experiences of adjustment and integration in North America, Europe, Australia, and the Middle East. Written by leading scholars of the Iranian diaspora, the original essays in this volume seek to understand and describe how Iranians in diaspora (re)define and maintain their ethno-national identity and (re)construct and preserve Iranian culture. They also explore the integration challenges the Iranian immigrants experience in a very negative context of reception. Combining theory and case studies, as well as a variety of methodological strategies and disciplinary perspectives, the essays offer needed insights into some of the most urgent and consequential issues and problem areas of immigration studies, including national, ethnic, and racial identity construction; dual citizenship and dual nationality maintenance; familial and religious transformation; politics of citizenship; integration; ethnic and cultural maintenance in diaspora; and the link between politics and the integration of immigrants, particularly Muslim immigrants.

Any country that has attained a suitable station in today's world and positioned itself finely is because of years of ceaseless effort and attitude of the great women and men, who through unrivaled courage and perpetual perseverance, have left an aesthetically splendid legacy for all to live and abide by. In the world of trade and entrepreneurship in Iran, a large number of wonderful and decent folks, be it in pre- or post-revolutionary years, have labored intensely to enable the constant growth of the country's economy, and create job opportunities for the masses.Dr. Reza Yadegari and his esteemed wife, Ms. Mahshid Sanaee fard, are the only researcher couple actively involved in the Iranian entrepreneurial scene ever since 1997 when they were in their 20s. The highly distinguished and academically accredited wife and husband have spent a better part of their lives researching the greatest Iranian entrepreneurs, and as result have conducted interviews with over five hundred such top-notch entrepreneurs across the country. Their valuable works and acclaimed books have earned them many prestigious awards including the 'Jalal Al-e-Ahmad Prize.' Finally, the Doctor and his kind wife's overall goal and the objective is to introduce the Iranian economy and entrepreneurs to the rest of the world.

Any country that has attained a suitable station in today's world and positioned itself finely is because of years of ceaseless effort and attitude of the great women and men, who through unrivaled courage and perpetual perseverance, have left an aesthetically splendid legacy for all to live and abide by. In the world of trade and entrepreneurship in Iran, a large number of wonderful and decent folks, be it in pre- or post-revolutionary years, have labored intensely to enable the constant growth of the country's economy, and create job opportunities for the masses.Dr. Reza Yadegari and his esteemed wife, Ms. Mahshid Sanaeefard, are the only researcher couple actively involved in the Iranian entrepreneurial scene ever since 1997 when they were in their 20s. The highly distinguished and academically accredited wife and husband have spent a better part of their lives researching the greatest Iranian entrepreneurs, and as result have conducted interviews with over five hundred such top-notch entrepreneurs across the country. Their valuable works and acclaimed books have earned them many prestigious awards including the 'Jalal Al-e-Ahmad Prize.' Finally, the Doctor and his kind wife's overall goal and the objective is to introduce the Iranian economy and entrepreneurs to the rest of the world.Dr. Reza YadegariMahshid Sanaeefard