Personal networks' influence on student entrepreneurs: A qualitative study
- Publisher:
- World Scientific Publishing
- Publication Type:
- Journal Article
- Citation:
- International Journal of Innovation and Technology Management, 2020, pp. 1-25
- Issue Date:
- 2020-07-01
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The present study focuses on students who have conceptualised the business idea during their academic studies and created the business venture during or within two years after graduation. The extant literature identifies social networks as a key factor not only for opportunity recognition but also for start-up survival. This study expands the knowledge about the roles of personal networks within the context of student entrepreneurs. By conducting focus group, interviews, and a survey at a top-ranked technological institute of higher learning in India, the current study analysed the role played by the personal networks in facilitating and enabling the creation of a venture by student entrepreneurs. Our study shows (1) student entrepreneurs' expectations from their personal networks are grouped under 10 topics, (2) the hierarchy of these roles indicates the triggering impact of business networking with a final outcome of motivational support, and (3) the degree which these expectations are realised show that business networking, venture financing and the founding team formation are the most important roles in the actual start-up phase. The present empirical study is an earliest attempt to address the gap in the entrepreneurship literature pertaining to analysing student entrepreneurs’ perspectives on the role of personal networks during start-up. With theoretical and practical implications, this study tries to enrich the entrepreneurship literature.
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