Stigma is almost overlooked in the understanding entrepreneurial venture of disadvantaged individuals to create a venture. However numerous studies associated disadvantage as a foundation to initiate a venture. We study a new sample as a disadvantaged group who has been pushed to live at the margin of society on account of their non-binary gender identity. Based on an inductive study of fifteen trans-entrepreneurs, our model indicates stigma as a source of entrepreneurial motivation. It activates a sense of resilience either to gain respect and economic need (personal benefit) or to change the perception of society around stigma (prosocial) which enables them to thrive by creating a venture. The findings of this study open new horizons for further theoretical development and empirical research. This study also presents a self-help mechanism to disadvantaged individuals that enable them to overcome stigma.

Keywords: Entrepreneurial Motivation, Gender-based Stigmatization, Displacement or/and Disadvantage.