Research interests
African business and entrepreneurship
Portfolio entrepreneurship
Entrepreneurship in developing counties
The value chain and enterprising activity
Knowledge Exchange in Higher Education Contexts
Market Opportunity assessment
Market Feasibility Studies
Business Models/ Business Model innovation
The relationship between risk and entrepreneurship
Educational Technology
Start-ups and Venture Capital
Prototyping and design thinking
Entrepreneurship Pedagogy
New Market Entry
Competitive Analysis
Consultancy and Industry projects in higher education contexts
Applied research and collaboration between universities and public/private sector
GRANT AWARDS
2022 amount awarded £12,436.26 (Feb &March 22)- Principle Investigator QR Policy Support Fund: Understanding the long-lasting Impact of Covid-19 on SMEs and Micro Businesses in Hull’s non, city centre locations
2021 amount awarded £39,747.72 (Jan- July 21)- Principle Investigator TPF-CV 19: Developing a Post-Covid 19 recovery framework for Tanzania’s Tourism sector. Funder: GCRF Fund 2020-1 link: https://www.hull.ac.uk/work-with-us/research/case-studies/supporting-post-covid-19-recovery-in-tanzania
2021 amount awarded £23,000 (Jan-July 21)- Co- Investigator Assessment of the potential of geothermal energy to enhance economic development, health and well-being in Malawi. Funder GCRF Fund 2020-1
2019-20 amount awarded circa 52k (Co-investigator) Lobster Marketing phase 2-'Supporting the future of the Lobster Trade and Tourism in the Holderness Coast' Funder: European Maritime Fisheries Fund, Marine Maritime Organisation and Holderness Flag
2017-2019 amount awarded: circa 93k (Co-investigator) Lobster Marketing phase 1- Sustaining & Growing the lobster trade for Holderness coast fishermen’ Funder: European Maritime Fisheries Fund, Marine Maritime Organisation and Holderness Flag
OTHER RESEARCH PROJECTS
Sep 2021 - Present- Understanding the long-lasting Impact of Covid 19 on Small and Micro Businesses in Hull’s non, city centre locations
Jun 2021 - Aug 2021- An Assessment of the John Cracknell Youth Enterprise Bank: Benefits and suggested future actions An
Oct 2020 - Jun 2021- Covid 19’s impact on Hull and the surrounding areas High growth firms: insights for best practice
CONSULTANCIES & KNOWLEDGE EXCHANGE
Sep 2021 - February 2022- In-depth market feasibility and assessment for a proposed innovative agricultural waste slurry product.
2021 (April-May) Academic Lead (Work package 4)- Developing Low Carbon Agriculture in the Humber Region: A Case Study of Black Grass (value circa 6k)
2021 (Feb-April) Academic Lead- Entrepreneurship in the Humber a Gap Analysis (value circa 10k)
2020 (August-December) Academic Lead- Global market trends and analysis of Carbon Nanofiber 2016-24 (value circa 11k). Project link: https://aura-innovation.co.uk/osl-consulting-engineers/
2020 (March - August) Academic Lead - Vehicle to Grid (V2G): UK Market Insights on Electric Vehicle Charging Industry (value circa 10k)
2016- Work (gratis) with grow movement in Lilongwe Malawi measuring the economic success of their membership programme for SMEs within Lilongwe.
Postgraduate supervision
Dr Malfense Fierro is interested in supervising Masters students, and hearing from potential PhD candidates that are desirous of doing novel research in his main areas of interest (Please see research interests section).
These primarily include (but are not limited to) African large scale entrepreneurship and business, portfolio entrepreneurship, entrepreneurship in challenging environments, as well as entrepreneurship topics generally (in any country) and in developing contexts.
Further interest include applied research involving SMEs large organisations.
Completed PhDs
- Dr. Mato Magobe (as first supervisor)
- Dr. Ontida Chanuban (as first supervisor)
- Dr. Priscilla Otuo (as joint first supervisor)
- Dr. Abdullah F Al Mulhim (as second supervisor)
- Dr. Peter Djabang (as second supervisor)
- Dr. Asiamah Yeboah (as second supervisor)
Current PhD supervisions (1st Supervisor)
- Mr Ze Qian, first supervisor (Submitted Awaiting Viva)