Dr. Kisito Futonge Nzembayie

Assistant Professor, Trinity Business School

Biography

Kisito F. Nzembayie is an Assistant Professor in Entrepreneurship and Associate Director of the MSc in Entrepreneurship at Trinity Business School, Trinity College Dublin (TCD). He received his MSc and PhD in Digital Entrepreneurship at the Technological University Dublin, where he subsequently lectured in the areas of entrepreneurship, digital marketing and eCommerce prior to joining TCD. Additionally, Kisito holds a postgraduate certificate in University Learning and Teaching. His main research interests lie at the intersection between Entrepreneurship, Information Systems and Action Research. He is the lead author of a book on Digital Entrepreneurship published by Edward Elgar in 2022. Kisito has also been published in the Journal of Business Venturing Insights, European Management Review, and others. His expertise reaches far beyond the confines of academia. As a serial digital entrepreneur turned scholar, he has successfully bootstrapped and established debt-free businesses in the EdTech industry. These ventures have gained significant traction, attracting over 80 million users worldwide, with an annual reach of approximately 7 million users. This unique blend of practical experience and scholarly pursuit positions him as a scholar-practitioner, effortlessly bridging the gap between theory and real-world application. With a global perspective shaped by living on three continents, including 12 years in China, Kisito possesses a deep understanding of diverse cultures. His fluency in multiple languages, including Mandarin Chinese, impresses students when he teaches modules like International Entrepreneurship in the MSc Entrepreneurship programme. Currently, he is actively involved in groundbreaking practice-informed research exploring emerging themes such as platform-dependent digital entrepreneurship and Digital Darwinism, generative AI affordances, entrepreneurship as design, crises as external enablers of entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship education in an era of AI. Kisito"s multifaceted background, encompassing academia, entrepreneurship, and cultural adaptability, has resulted in a plurality of perspectives, enabling him to approach complex subjects with an open and inquiring mind. Through his research, teaching, and practical experiences, he continues to inspire and empower students and aspiring entrepreneurs alike to thrive in today's rapidly evolving business landscape.

Publications and Further Research Outputs

Peer-Reviewed Publications

Kisito Futonge Nzembayie, Anthony Paul Buckley, Entrepreneurial Process Studies Using Insider Action Research: Opportunities & Challenges for Entrepreneurship Scholarship, European Management Review, 2020Journal Article, 2020, DOI
Kisito Futonge Nzembayie, Anthony Paul Buckley, Thomas Cooney, Researching Pure Digital Entrepreneurship " A Multimethod Insider Action Research approach, Journal of Business Venturing Insights, 11, 2019, pe00103Journal Article, 2019, DOI
Nzembayie, K.F., Using insider action research in the study of digital entrepreneurial processes: A pragmatic design choice, Electronic Journal of Business Research Methods, 15, (2), 2017, p85-98Journal Article, 2017, DOI
Kisito Futonge Nzembayie, Anthony Paul Buckley , Digital Entrepreneurship: Disruption & New Venture Creation , 1, UK, Edward Elgar, 2022, https://doi.org/10.4337/978180ppBook, 2022, DOI
Kisito Futonge Nzembayie, Doing Insider Action Design Research (IADR) in Entrepreneurship: Lessons from a PhD Case, 2023Case Study, 2023, DOI

I research at the nexus between two main disciplines: Entrepreneurship and Information Systems (IS). I adopt a more engaged form of scholarship that leverages Action Research and Participant Observation, among other qualitative methodologies. This implies that a variety of technology, entrepreneurship and methodology journals present possible outlets for my research. I also research pedagogical methodologies for entrepreneurship education. Consequently, my research is anchored on three main pillars: Digitalisation, Entrepreneurship & Action Research. I am currently developing research papers under the following themes and sub-themes: Digitalisation Digital entrepreneurship Digital entrepreneurial marketing Digital platform strategies & network effects Digital platform-dependent entrepreneurship Technology affordances & constraints theory Algorithmic agencies in the digital entrepreneurial process: Generative AI and beyond Entrepreneurship Research New venture creation Entrepreneurial process Entrepreneurship as Design External enablers of entrepreneurship Institutional entrepreneurship Entrepreneurship Education & Research Methods Action Research Action learning Design learning Interiority & Entrepreneurship as First-Person Education

Economics, Business & Management,

Recognition

First Place Gold Medal Award - TU Dublin, MSc Entrepreneurship, 2015 2015
Student Excellence Gold Medal Award, TU Dublin 2015 2015
Best PhD Paper - ECRM, 2017, Dublin 2017
Best Paper Finalist - Technology Entrepreneurship - ISBE Conference, York 2022 2022
Best Paper Finalist - Technology Entrepreneurship - ISBE Conference, Newcastle 2019 2019
Best Paper - Technology Entrepreneurship - ISBE Conference, Birmingham 2018 2018

ISBE - Institute for Small Business & Entrepreneurship 2023
EURAM - European Academy of Management 2025

Member of the Organizing Committee of the 2024 IPDMC: INNOVATION AND PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE 2023
Representing Trinity Business School at the 2022 Irish Export Industry Awards. I delivered a brief speech on TBS and sustainability and proceeded to offer awards to the winners of the Sustainable Trade Company of the Year (Maersk Ireland) I also granted a video interview. 30/09/2022