Submission Requirements

Topic

Your case study should feature a dilemma that highlights examples of entrepreneurial ventures or decisions, related to one or more emerging markets, that illustrate critical issues such as market entry, resource constraints, innovation, scaling strategies, financing, institutional voids, cultural dynamics, and social impact. (Please click here for The World Bank’s most recent list of low income and lower middle-income countries.)

Why is entrepreneurship so important to emerging markets?

Entrepreneurship plays a critical role in emerging markets because it fuels economic growth, creates jobs, and drives innovation in economies where formal employment and large-scale industry are often limited. By fostering small and medium enterprises, entrepreneurs generate opportunities for youth, women, and marginalized groups, contributing directly to poverty reduction and inclusive growth. They also help diversify economies that might otherwise rely heavily on a few sectors, making countries more resilient to shocks such as commodity price fluctuations, global trade disruptions, or climate challenges.

Below is a list of possible case study topics that would fit well within the category of “Entrepreneurship in Emerging Markets”. These are framed to highlight real-world entrepreneurial challenges, decision-making, and strategic opportunities relevant to emerging economies.

Potential Topic	Examples
Financing and investment challenges.	Access to capital for startups in markets with underdeveloped venture capital ecosystems. Microfinance as a driver of entrepreneurship (e.g., women-led businesses in South Asia or Africa). The role of mobile money platforms (e.g., M-Pesa in Kenya) in enabling small business growth. Crowdfunding and alternative financing models in regions with limited banking infrastructure.
Social and inclusive entrepreneurship.	Building businesses that address poverty, health, or education gaps. Social enterprises providing clean water, renewable energy, or sanitation solutions. Scaling inclusive business models that integrate low-income communities into supply chains. Women and youth entrepreneurship in patriarchal or resource-constrained societies.
Technology and innovation in resource-constrained settings.	Startups leveraging mobile technology for e-commerce, agriculture, or healthcare delivery. The rise of fintech startups in emerging markets addressing financial exclusion. Agri-tech ventures improving farmer productivity and market access. Leapfrogging technologies (e.g., renewable energy microgrids where traditional infrastructure is weak).
Institutional and regulatory environments.	Navigating corruption, bureaucracy, or weak property rights as an entrepreneur. Entrepreneurship in post-conflict or politically unstable economies. The impact of government support programs, incubators, and accelerators in emerging markets. Cross-border trade barriers and opportunities for regional entrepreneurial growth.
Globalization and market expansion.	Emerging market startups scaling internationally. Multinational corporations partnering with local entrepreneurs. Local brands competing against global giants (e.g., e-commerce, ride-sharing, food delivery). Diaspora entrepreneurs returning home to launch businesses.
Sustainability and climate entrepreneurship.	Renewable energy ventures in markets heavily dependent on fossil fuels. Circular economy businesses addressing waste management in urbanizing cities. Sustainable agriculture startups combating food insecurity. Climate-resilient business models in regions vulnerable to natural disasters.
Education, skills, and ecosystem development.	Entrepreneurial training programs at universities in emerging markets. Building startup ecosystems: incubators, accelerators, and tech hubs in Africa, Asia, or Latin America. Entrepreneurs turning informal sector activity into formalized enterprises. Addressing the “brain drain” problem through entrepreneurship opportunities locally.

 

Additional Submission Requirements 

Format:

Who is Eligible to Enter: Individual students or student teams (graduate or undergraduate) and other professionals may enter, but must enter in collaboration with a faculty member or instructor from an accredited university/college, in the U.S. or internationally. Individual faculty/instructors or teams from an accredited university/college (in the U.S. or internationally) may also enter.

Teaching Note: All submitted cases must include a teaching note.

Abstract: An abstract for the case must accompany your submission documents. The abstract should be 150 words maximum.

Protagonist, Decision Point (Dilemma): Case must have a protagonist, clear dilemma/decision point, and sufficient contextual background information for a student to develop solutions to the dilemma.

Primary vs. Secondary Research: If your case study is based on primary data (i.e., proprietary, non-public data gathered via personal interview, phone interview, email interview, etc.), WDI Publishing’s Organization Release Form must be signed by the appropriate contact within the organization before the case will be considered for publication. If your case study is based on secondary data (i.e., data publicly available) then no Organization Release is required.

Past Tense: With very few exceptions, case studies should be written in past tense.

Previously Unpublished: The case study and teaching note must be previously unpublished and must not be bound by any copyright restrictions.

Geographical Setting: The setting for the case must be an emerging market.

Charts, Graphs, Visuals: Often charts, graphs, and other compelling visuals found online or in other sources are under copyright. To avoid copyright infringement WDI Publishing prefers authors create their own charts and/or graphs, based on data from documented sources. Graphs and charts should be created as clearly as possible and only contain relevant information. To better meet the latest ADA Digital Accessibility Standards, please review one of the following: A) An Intro to Designing Accessible Data Visualizations  B) Accessible Data Viz is Better Data Viz

Permissions: WDI Publishing does not offer a permissions service. Therefore, the case author(s) are responsible for getting any necessary permissions to use visuals, charts, graphs, photos, etc. A copy of the permission must then be provided to WDI Publishing to keep on file.

Citations/Endnotes: All data in the case must be cited (in-text with consecutive numbers) with reputable primary or secondary sources. (Note: WDI Publishing does not accept Wikipedia as a reliable source.) The consecutive, in-text citations should correspond to full source information at the end of the document as Endnotes. Please use MLA style for endnotes. Generally, endnote sources must include: Author Name(s), Title of Work, Source of Work, Date Published, URL, Access Date. Here is an example:

LeClair, Dan. “Striving for Global Understanding in a Changing World.” Global Business School Network Blog, 25 Sept. 2025. https://gbsn.org/striving-for-global-understanding-in-a-changing-world/. Accessed 2 Oct. 2025.

Publication of the Winning Cases: The winning cases and their teaching notes will be edited, formatted and published on wdi-publishing.com and priced as determined by WDI Publishing. The winning cases may also be available through WDI Publishing’s distribution partners.

Authors of Winning Cases: If your case study is chosen as a winner, all authors must sign WDI Publishing’s Distribution License and Royalty Agreement that states:

Award Details

The prize money will be awarded in US currency and may be subject to applicable bank fees. Further, these prizes generate taxable income which will require the winners to provide specific tax information and may, in certain cases, result in significant tax withholdings. For more information, please consult your tax advisor.

Prize money will not be awarded until authors provide the following:

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