Nascent Technology Entrepreneurs New Venture Formation Activities

Abstract

Despite the importance accorded to start-up processes, we know little about the efforts invested by technology entrepreneurs while forming new ventures. This chapter addresses this important research agenda through an in-depth examination of the activities undertaken by the technology entrepreneur during new venture formation (NVF). The study of technology entrepreneurs, funded under the Commercialisation of Research and Development grant, is based in the south-east of Ireland in a start-up incubator programme (South East Enterprise Platform Programme). The findings indicate that the NVF comprises of seven activities: legitimising, social capital building, resourcing, marketing, product development, strategising and organising, and four activities consisted of sub-processes. The type and nature of activity engaged in by the technology entrepreneur varies considerably throughout the formation process, becoming less general and more sector specific as the process intensifies.