STEAMING AHEAD: THE ROLE OF ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN SCALING RURAL COFFEE STARTUPS

Abstract

The growing interest in rural entrepreneurship has highlighted the unique opportunities and challenges faced by coffee shop startups in underserved areas. However, a significant gap persists in understanding how these ventures can achieve scalability while addressing structural barriers such as limited infrastructure, resource constraints, and market saturation. This study aims to analyse the entrepreneurial landscape of rural coffee startups through a Scopus AI analysis, synthesizing global case studies to map key success factors, identify research gaps, and propose actionable frameworks for growth. The methodology involved a structured search string deployed in Scopus AI, yielding 17 peer-reviewed studies published between 2017 and 2024. Data were analysed using thematic clustering, concept mapping, and temporal keyword analysis to uncover patterns and emerging trends. Findings reveal that successful rural coffee ventures are driven by robust business ecosystems, community engagement, and innovative practices such as sustainability strategies and digital adoption. Location selection, product innovation, and cooperative structures emerged as critical success factors, while urban innovation spillovers were shown to positively influence rural entrepreneurial activities. The study also identifies gaps in scalability frameworks and interdisciplinary approaches, particularly regarding hybrid rural-urban supply chains and AI-driven market analytics. Theoretical implications include advancements in frameworks for evaluating entrepreneurial ecosystems, while practical contributions provide actionable recommendations for entrepreneurs, policymakers, and development agencies. Limitations include potential biases in algorithmic processing and the exclusion of primary data collection. Future research should adopt mixed method approaches and explore the scalability of cooperative models. By addressing these insights, this study contributes to fostering sustainable and inclusive growth in rural coffee entrepreneurship, offering a foundation for broader socio-economic development.