Doing diversity in entrepreneurial accelerators: A mentor’s view of tools, translations, and the (re)production of social structures

In this article, I draw upon social practice theories as a way to understand the persistent lack of diversity in entrepreneurship as inter-related nexuses of practices. The article presents evidence from an autoethnography. It situates diversity issues within a larger set of interdependent relational practices that unfold over time in entrepreneurial contexts. Insights from my reflections on volunteering as a mentor in a celebrated, virtual accelerator highlight the ways that diversity in entrepreneurship can be understood as interconnected practices. The article contributes to the entrepreneurship-as-practice literature by examining the ways that sociomateriality and translation play in the social accomplishment of diversity in accelerators. It also offers suggestions for accelerator leaders and other practitioners. ●Autoethnography is an underused means of investigating entrepreneurial contexts●Diversity in an accelerator is a nexus of practices●A practice-theory explanation of diversity in entrepreneurship is explored