Pages: 79-91
Introduction. This article looks into the reasons, tools, approaches, and beliefs that drive early-stage entrepreneurship in Romania. It is based on a thematic analysis of 42 semi-structured interviews carried out in 2020. The study aims to find common trends and categories among entrepreneurs, while also looking at the personal and environmental factors that affect how they start and run businesses. Since the research took place during the COVID-19 pandemic, it provides special insight into how Romanian entrepreneurs viewed and dealt with the challenges of the crisis.
Aim of the study. The analysis shows the variety of paths entrepreneurs take, how their personal backgrounds connect with their business practices, and how traits like resilience, flexibility, and informal connections help build lasting businesses. The results add to the understanding of opportunity-based entrepreneurship in developing countries and highlight the importance of creating policies that fit the goals and real-life experiences of small business owners.
