Under the microscope: Motivation of nascent entrepreneurs Presentation of the Stöbich Entrepreneurship PhD Award 2023

On 2 November, Dr Carina Bohlayer from Leuphana University Lüneburg was awarded the Stöbich Entrepreneurship PhD Award. Her dissertation contributes to research on the motivational dynamics of prospective entrepreneurs. The Entrepreneurship Hub at Technische Universität Braunschweig and Ostfalia University of Applied Sciences is awarding the €7,500 PhD award in the field of entrepreneurship for the third time in collaboration with Stöbich GmbH & Co. KG.

“In the third year of the competition, the jury was once again able to view and evaluate numerous first-class applications. All the academic papers submitted in this exceptional field of entrepreneurship research deal with different subject areas, each of them at the highest level,” says Dirk-Olaf Petersen, CFO of Stöbich Holding GmbH & Co KG.

Dr Carina Bohlayer’s dissertation entitled “Becoming Entrepreneurs – Critical Situations and the Dynamics of Nascent Entrepreneurs’ Motivations” examines the dynamic development of the motivation of nascent entrepreneurs and the resulting actions, thereby closing a research gap in entrepreneurship research. In her work, she explores critical situations and their influence on founders and their motivation, including the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenges of sustainable entrepreneurship. Her research findings, which have been internationally recognised and presented at prestigious conferences, provide valuable insights into how individual motivations and critical situations interact and ultimately influence the success of aspiring entrepreneurs.

“The importance of this research cannot be emphasised enough. It helps to close the gaps in our understanding and to ensure that prospective entrepreneurs can be better supported,” says Prof. Reza Asghari, chairman of the jury and head of the Entrepreneurship Hub.

In addition to her academic work, Dr Bohlayer co-founded the non-profit organisation “Doorways gGmbH” to support disadvantaged aspiring entrepreneurs through practice-oriented entrepreneurship training.

“Dr Bohlayer’s commitment not only demonstrates her outstanding academic expertise, but also her passionate dedication to bringing about positive change in the entrepreneurial world,” emphasised Prof. Asghari in his laudatory speech.

About the award

The Stöbich Entrepreneurship PhD Award is endowed with 7,500 euros. The aim of the award is to encourage and promote scientists to make a contribution to more innovative entrepreneurship in society.