Crises and entrepreneurial opportunities: Digital social innovation in response to physical distancing

As physical distancing is a core measure of containing the spread COVID-19, this pandemic crisis that has uprooted social interaction. While current research mainly focuses on crises as challenge for entrepreneurial ventures and potential regulatory response mechanisms, we complement by addressing question how in general—and COVID-19’s measures particular—shape opportunities innovation. Based two rounds data collection—desktop mapping out 95 activities Germany four focus groups—we find first entrepreneurs are proactive agents alleviating negative consequences COVID-19 crisis. They do so creating types digital innovation: brokering digitized services. Second, note societal can be buffered shifts entrepreneurs’ strategic orientation through improvised venturing, rapid pivoting pro-social product extension. Third, variance persistence changes with Whereas some innovation rather ephemeral, others might endure promise long-term impacts. We offer key insights literature crisis, hybrid organizing well implications entrepreneurship practice policy. • Physical constraints promote New actors engage venturing to create Existing Social ephemeral or enduring.