Rethinking Youth Entrepreneurship Through a Systems Perspective

ASETT took part in the first session of Think2Act, a systemic innovation lab led by Fundación Youth Business Spain and facilitated by Urbegi Social Impact, with the aim of rethinking Spain’s support system for youth entrepreneurship.

The session was held as part of World Entrepreneurship Day, bringing together public institutions, social organisations and key actors from the entrepreneurial ecosystem to develop a shared understanding of the main challenges young people face when starting a business.

The lab also included representatives from public institutions and government bodies, reinforcing the dialogue between public policy and on-the-ground practice—an essential element in developing effective, long-term solutions.

Structural Challenges Facing Youth Entrepreneurship

The session highlighted several structural barriers that continue to shape youth entrepreneurship, particularly for young people facing greater social and economic vulnerability.

Among the main challenges identified were:

• the fragmentation of the entrepreneurial support ecosystem, making it difficult for young people to navigate clear and accessible pathways;
• unequal starting conditions linked to geography, socioeconomic background and access to support networks; and
• the need to strengthen entrepreneurial culture from an early age—not only as a pathway to business creation, but also as a means of developing key competencies such as creativity, initiative and the ability to manage uncertainty.

These challenges underline the need for support models that are better connected, more equitable and centred on people’s needs.

Collective Entrepreneurship: An Emerging Opportunity

International research, including findings from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), shows that younger generations are increasingly open to forms of collective entrepreneurship that enable participants to share risks, knowledge and responsibility.

This trend reflects a broader cultural shift: young people are looking for ways of creating businesses that are more collaborative, sustainable and aligned with social values, where value creation extends beyond economic returns to generate positive impact within communities.

In this context, collective entrepreneurship—particularly through cooperative business models—is emerging as a strategic way to expand opportunities and reduce barriers to youth entrepreneurship.

ASETT’s Commitment to New Forms of Entrepreneurship

ASETT’s participation in Think2Act reflects its commitment to analysing and promoting business models that help reduce inequalities and strengthen inclusive economic ecosystems.

From this perspective, supporting youth and collective entrepreneurship represents an opportunity to foster new forms of enterprise that are more resilient, democratic and rooted in their communities.

The Think2Act innovation lab will continue its work throughout 2026, with the goal of translating these shared insights into innovation portfolios and new support tools for young entrepreneurs, helping to strengthen Spain’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.