Technology Nascent Entrepreneur Experiences of Start-up Competition Participation

Abstract

Start-up competitions have been proliferating across university campuses worldwide as one of the mechanisms to support student and graduate entrepreneurship. The chapter takes the start-up competition (SUC) phenomenon from the perspective of the technology nascent entrepreneur participant and within the context of their individual experiences of participation. It contextualises the start-up competition, giving due attention to its origins and the contemporary environment, and conceptualises the phenomenon, unpacking the espoused benefits of the competition participation experience for the participant. This highlights that despite SUC being promoted to technology nascent entrepreneurs as an important activity and valuable opportunity, a problematic dearth in knowledge surrounds how such entrepreneurs understand, describe and reflect upon their experiences of SUC participation. Through the medium of two individual and exploratory case studies, this chapter presents nascent technology entrepreneur accounts of their participation in a UK university-based business plan competition. Propositions are offered which could usefully guide much-needed further exploration of start-up competitions within the context of technology nascent entrepreneurial new venturing.