The Need of Entrepreneurship Training for STEM Underrepresented Racially Minoritized Undergraduate Students

Written by Ebony O. McGee, Binh C. Bui, Shelly Engelman, and Diondraya Taylor

This study investigates how entrepreneurial experience and equity aspiration influence the intent to pursue entrepreneurship among underrepresented racially minoritized (URM) STEM undergraduate students. Drawing on survey data from 327 URM STEM students and guided by the Equity Ethics framework, the research reveals that both prior experience with entrepreneurship—and even the intent to gain experience—significantly increase students’ entrepreneurial intent. Crucially, the desire to uplift marginalized communities, or equity aspiration, serves as a key mediator: entrepreneurial experience strengthens equity-driven motivations, which in turn heighten the intention to become future founders. These findings suggest that entrepreneurship training programs incorporating both experiential learning and equity-centered content may be especially impactful for URM students in STEM, positioning entrepreneurship not just as a career path, but as a tool for social and racial justice.

The Need of Entrepreurship Training for STEM URM Research.pdf

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