Unraveling Entrepreneurial Team Formation: A Qualitative Study Among Funded Ventures

Triantafyllia-Varvara Klada

doi:10.1177/2158244018776700

Abstract

Arguably, entrepreneurial team formation constitutes an arduous but fundamental task toward venture establishment. Given the relatively scant attention that has been paid to this research topic, th...

Highlights

In the midst of market volatility and scarcity of financial resources, embarking upon an entrepreneurial venture incurs considerable challenges which often condemn entrepreneurs’ efforts (Gelderen, Thurik, & Bosma, 2005)
Academic literature on entrepreneurial teams is heavily focused on Inputs-Mediators-Outcomes models, which underpin the relationship between team inputs and new venture performance but fail to capture its full complexity (Klotz, Hmieleski, Bradley, & Busenitz, 2014)
According to founders’ narrations, the entrepreneurial team formation process emerged from a conspicuous gap between the founders’ own skills and the skillset required for the creation of a product prototype

Summary

Introduction

In the midst of market volatility and scarcity of financial resources, embarking upon an entrepreneurial venture incurs considerable challenges which often condemn entrepreneurs’ efforts (Gelderen, Thurik, & Bosma, 2005). Academic literature on entrepreneurial teams is heavily focused on Inputs-Mediators-Outcomes models, which underpin the relationship between team inputs and new venture performance but fail to capture its full complexity (Klotz, Hmieleski, Bradley, & Busenitz, 2014). They provide little understanding on the way entrepreneurial teams enter the venture life cycle despite the undeniably challenging nature of staffing a barely shaped venture (Brush et al, 2001).

Objectives

Results

Conclusion