Neurodiversity and Early-Stage Entrepreneurs

Abstract

To strengthen our growing understanding of the relationship between neurodiversity and entrepreneurial cognition, we utilize the neuropathology perspective and conservation of resources theory to explore this relationship. Specifically, we introduce the resource-induced coping heuristic (RICH) as a mechanism to explain the relationship between ADHD and entrepreneurial alertness, cognitive adaptability, and entrepreneurial intent. We propose that ADHD functions through the RICH in an entrepreneurship context, primarily because ADHD-related neurofunctions lead entrepreneurs to encounter resources to be considered for acquisition, development, and protection. Our findings indicate that while there is no direct relationship between ADHD and entrepreneurial alertness, cognitive adaptability, and entrepreneurial intent, there is a strong relationship with all three when the RICH moderates each relationship. In this way, the RICH bridges the conceptual gap for entrepreneurs with ADHD, between their pathological cognitive executive control and reward attributes and other cognitive resources, such as entrepreneurial alertness, cognitive adaptability, and entrepreneurial intent.