As forced migration continues to rise globally, our understanding of how refugees pursue entrepreneurship in developed economies remains limited. In this study, we draw on a field study of 56 refugees enrolled in an entrepreneurship training program in Ohio to explore three critical aspects of refugee entrepreneurship: motivations, barriers, and ideas. While refugee entrepreneurs share some traits with the general population, they also display unique characteristics. These individuals emphasize community impact as a primary motivation, surpassing traditional drivers such as independence or wealth. They face not only familiar barriers, such as limited access to capital but also, but also distinct challenges, particularly the complexities of legal and institutional requirements. Their entrepreneurial ideas often target the broader population rather than immigrant communities, reflecting both ambition and adaptability. Overall, this exploratory work highlights the distinctiveness of refugee entrepreneurs in the broader context of necessity entrepreneurship. It enriches the literature on entrepreneurship in marginalized populations and offers practical insights for NGOs and policymakers working to support refugee integration. In addition, in this work, we outline a compelling research agenda that aims to better understand and address the unique dynamics of refugee entrepreneurship in developed economies.
