Abstract
Entrepreneurs have an important role in the development of countries' economies. Entrepreneurs who contribute to the increase in economic prosperity, employment and added value in the society should be supported. In addition to the support mechanisms that affect the success of enterprises, the characteristics of entrepreneurship are also important. The purpose of this study is to determine the profile of entrepreneurs who have established businesses in the TRA2 Region by benefiting from the KOSGEB New Entrepreneur Support Program. The sample of the study consists of 102 entrepreneurs benefiting from New Entrepreneur Support in the TRA2 Region. According to the findings, it was concluded that the participants were predominantly male and married individuals, their average age was 39 (± 8.5 months) and they had high school and below education. The male dominance of entrepreneurs in the TRA2 region is also compatible with the general entrepreneurial profile of Turkey.
The characteristics of entrepreneurs affect the performance of their businesses. In TRA2 region, it was determined that demographic characteristics such as age, gender and marital status have a low effect, personal development factors such as work experience, education and culture have a high effect on the formation of the entrepreneurial personality of individuals. While the most important advantage of being an entrepreneur for the participants is the feeling of achievement, the biggest disadvantage is the burden of responsibility. It was concluded that the most important feature to be an entrepreneur is to have an entrepreneurial spirit. In addition, it can be said that the most important obstacle to entrepreneurship in the TRA2 region is the problem of financing. Supporting entrepreneurs will contribute to the increase in the number of entrepreneurs who create added value and to reduce the employment problem.