Abstract Book of the 17th International Conference on Management, Economics and Humanities
Year: 2026
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Digital Tools in Entrepreneurship Education: Enhancing the Ability to Attract Funding for Entrepreneurial Ventures
Kristaps Lesinskis, Inese Mavlutova, Janis Valeinis, Eriks Vilunas
ABSTRACT:
This study examines how the use of digital tools in entrepreneurship education enhances students’ ability to attract funding for entrepreneurial ventures. In the context of increasing digitalization of higher education, entrepreneurship programs have progressively integrated digital platforms, simulations, and online learning environments aimed at strengthening venture development competencies. Employing a mixed-methods research design, the study investigates the relationship between students’ perceived learning outcomes, their preparedness to present and validate business
ideas to potential investors, and the application of specific digital tools. The analysis draws on quantitative survey data collected from higher education institutions across multiple countries, complemented by a systematic review of relevant scholarly literature. The primary objective is to
assess the extent to which digitally supported entrepreneurship education contributes to the development of skills and capabilities associated with attracting external financing, such as opportunity evaluation, business model articulation, and investor-oriented communication. The findings reveal significant cross-national and regional differences in the effectiveness of digital tools, indicating that their impact on funding attraction potential is strongly influenced by cultural, institutional, and pedagogical contexts. While digital tools generally enhance student engagement and venture-related competencies, their effectiveness in improving funding readiness varies across educational settings. Overall, the study contributes to the literature on digital entrepreneurship education by shifting the focus from entrepreneurial intentions to venture funding readiness and offers practical implications for educators and policymakers seeking to strengthen entrepreneurship ecosystems through digitally enabled learning approaches.
Keywords: digitalization, financial literacy, higher education, mixed methods, quasi-experiment