Aspects of brazilian immigrant entrepreneurship in Porto, Portugal

Abstract

The article describes the activities of Brazilian entrepreneurship in Porto,
Portugal. Data were obtained through a multi-method approach that combined 35 semi-
structured interviews with entrepreneurs about their entrepreneurial trajectories and life stories, triangulated with data from a survey of 667 Brazilians in Portugal and netnographic analysis of
Facebook immigrant groups. The researchers also carried out field work, visiting and observing
Brazilian businesses and contacting entrepreneurs in the region. Findings point to issues
regarding the barriers to immigrants, such as the accent ceiling and the prejudice, which restricts
their earnings and job opportunities; the importance of business matters in the acculturation
process and entrepreneurial learning; the relevance of cultural issues for adaptation; the
importance of certain aspects of human capital and the social integration of Brazilians and their
networks.