New ventures, product innovation and business intermediaries

Abstract

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of knowledge-intensive business services (KIBS) intermediary ties on new ventures’ product innovation. Product innovation is a critical strategy for new ventures’ survival and growth. However, as a result of smallness and newness, new ventures usually face considerable difficulties in product innovation and require support to help their innovation search and innovation activities. Design/methodology/approach – A questionnaire survey of 145 Chinese new ventures is used to test presented hypotheses empirically. Findings – This study finds that the intensity of KIBS intermediary ties has a positive influence on innovation, while the diversity of KIBS intermediary ties has no influence on new ventures’ product innovation. Moreover, the relationship between the intensity of KIBS intermediary ties and new ventures’ product innovation is moderated by the degree of their international venturing and ties with other firms. Originality/value – This study enriches understanding of the important roles of KIBS intermediary ties on new ventures’ product innovation.