Entrepreneurial Cognition Research Articles

It’s all about resources: Narcissistic CEOs and entrepreneurial orientation during disruptions

Research regarding the influence of personality traits, such as narcissism, on entrepreneurial orientation (EO) is burgeoning, yet the role of affective and cognitive mechanisms is under-examined. Drawing from research on conservation of resources (COR) theory, entrepreneurial cognition and emotion, we examine the narcissism-EO relationship nexus. Specifically, we analyse the mediating role of the resource-induced coping heuristic (RICH) and the moderating influence of fear on the relationship between narcissism and EO. Longitudinal data from CEO-entrepreneurs of SMEs in six countries were collected during the COVID-19 disruptions. Results suggest that the RICH fully mediates the relationship between narcissism and EO. Fear of COVID-19 (FC-19) positively influenced EO and strengthened the narcissism-RICH relationship. Further, pandemic-related disruptions negatively influenced EO and attenuated the positive influence of FC-19 on EO. These findings offer insight into the drivers of entrepreneurial behaviour during times of disruption.

Exploring the Formation of Sustainable Entrepreneurial Intentions among Chinese University Students: A Dual Path Moderated Mediation Model

As Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) gain traction in Chinese society, fostering sustainable entrepreneurship among university students has emerged as a key priority for universities and governments. Methods for increasing students’ sustainable entrepreneurship skills and knowledge for the creation of sustainable startups have attracted substantial attention. This study constructs a moderated mediation model based on entrepreneurial cognition theory to investigate the mediating roles of opportunity identification and attitude in the relationship between sustainable entrepreneurship education and sustainable entrepreneurial intention among university students, in addition to the moderating effect of empathy. The study surveyed 307 students from universities in the Yangtze River Delta region and employed hierarchical regression analysis to test the hypotheses. The results indicate that sustainable entrepreneurship education enhances students’ sustainable entrepreneurial intention by fostering their opportunity identification and attitude, and this enhancement effect is stronger when their level of empathy is higher. These findings enrich entrepreneurial cognition and empathy theories within the context of sustainable entrepreneurship and offer valuable insights for universities and policymakers in developing strategies to support sustainable entrepreneurship among university students.

Moral judgment as a pivotal modulator in entrepreneurial cognition frameworks

Moral judgment as a pivotal modulator in entrepreneurial cognition frameworks

Organizational Blueprints as Situating Concepts: A Configurational View of Entrepreneurial Cognition

Organizational Blueprints as Situating Concepts: A Configurational View of Entrepreneurial Cognition

Regulative institutions, dynamic managerial capabilities, and strategic entrepreneurial performance

PurposeThis study examines firms' strategic entrepreneurial behaviors based on the interaction of regulatory institutions and entrepreneurs' cognition, human capital, and social capital capabilities.Design/methodology/approachData was collected from 450 exporting companies in Türkiye, which is a developing economy. Smart PLS 4.0 and SPSS 24.0 software were used to analyze the data. The data were examined using structural equation modeling, confirmatory factor analysis, average extracted variance, composite reliability, and Cronbach's alpha analyses.FindingsThe findings show that entrepreneurial cognition, social capital, and regulatory institutions influence each other, this relationship is not confirmed in managerial human capital. Moreover, while managerial cognition affects strategic entrepreneurship behavior, this effect was not supported for managerial human capital and managerial social capital. However, it was determined that only entrepreneurial cognition mediates the relationship between regulatory institutions and strategic entrepreneurial behavior.Originality/valueThis research enables entrepreneurs to understand, navigate, and appreciate the significance of the interactions between regulatory institutions and dynamic managerial capabilities in decision-making. Additionally, the study allows policymakers to develop evidence-based policy designs that equip entrepreneurs with the insights needed to succeed in a competitive and regulatory complex environment.

INCLINATION TOWARDS ENTREPRENEURSHIP AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS: REASONING ABOUT CAUSAL RELATIONSHIPS

Youth entrepreneurship has been growing in recent years, but only some studies investigate the influence of personality traits on youth entrepreneurship intention. In parallel, there is a call for more research investigating the role of cognitive structure, perceived university support, and the need for achievement towards entrepreneurship intention. Entrepreneurial cognition has become one of the essential components to hone students' entrepreneurial talents. Exposure to entrepreneurship knowledge in theory alone is only sufficient without putting it into practice. Therefore, higher learning institutions are responsible for producing more capable entrepreneurship students. Therefore, this article aims to understand how the need for achievement could mediate the relationship between cognitive structure, perceived university support, and entrepreneurship intention. This study is based on a cross‐sectional online survey design. The final data of 248 youths were analyzed using structural equation modeling (SEM). The present study proves that the need for achievement mediates the relationship between cognitive structure, perceived university support, and entrepreneurship intention. Thus, a high-achieving individual is more inclined to become an entrepreneur. As a theoretical contribution to the development of youth entrepreneurship, this article analyses the causal path relationship relationships between cognitive structure, perceived university support, need for achievement, and entrepreneurship intention, which have been explored little in the literature. On a practical level, it offers insights into potential strategies for improving training and programs to boost individual characteristics, confidence, competencies, and knowledge in entrepreneurship activities.

Genoeconomics: Decoding the genetic basis of entrepreneurial success

This paper explores the emerging intersection of genomics, neuroscience, and entrepreneurship. Specifically, it examines if and how genetic factors and neurobiological processes influence entrepreneurial behaviors and success. The key questions addressed are: 1) Is there a genetic basis for the entrepreneurial mindset? 2) Can genetic markers and neuroimaging data predict entrepreneurial outcomes? 3) What challenges arise when combining genetic, neuroscientific, and business data? 4) How can entrepreneurs utilize insights from genomics and neuroscience? The paper argues that synchronizing molecular genetics with behavioral data can offer new causal explanations for entrepreneurial cognition under the umbrella of "genoeconomics." However, there are methodological difficulties in analyzing genetically informative data. It cautions against genetic determinism while highlighting opportunities from mapping genetic entrepreneurial proclivities. Entrepreneurship is an intricate phenotype. Are entrepreneurs born or made or developed or adopted? What makes an entrepreneur think outside the box and pursuing avant-garde paths to attain entrepreneurial goals? Alvin Toffler mentioned of various ‘Waves’ viz. Agrarian, Industrial and so on. Economics and Business Management, today, is experiencing inestimable waves viz. Heterodox Wave, Genetic Wave, Molecular Wave, Cellular Wave, Hereditary Wave, [‘Infoplosion’ or ‘Info-Tectonics’ Wave, Capability Approach Wave, Institutional Wave, Behavioral / Experimental Wave [Cognitive and Emotional dimensions / Develops and uses experiments typically with human subjects], Evolutionary Wave, Cognitive Wave, Information Wave , Artificial [Synthetic and / or Fabricated] Intelligence Wave and Neuro Wave, to list a few, from a rational perspective. Of central interest in this paper is Managerial Business - Economics Wave. It deals with, with complex, deep-rooted problems, gears and technique to dissect market demand, assess expenses, establish pricing strategies, assess risks, and appreciate competitive dynamics. Is entrepreneurship a genetic trait? Of recent origin is emergence of incorporating genetic and biological markers into entrepreneurship. Issue that confronts is, is there a need to sync molecular genetics and entrepreneurial business data to genomic entrepreneurship; under umbrella of ‘Genoeconomics’? Does this mean that entrepreneurship is in genes? Do genes determine entrepreneurial success? Can genetics or molecular genetics and entrepreneurial data predict response to multifarious behavioral intercession? Can genetics calculate retort to intricate behavioral interference? Are genetic markers of interest for entrepreneurship research? What challenges occur when analyzing genetically informative facts? How, if at all, should entrepreneurs use and combine molecular genetics and business data? What challenges arise when analyzing genetically informative data? The moot issue is, can entrepreneurship be genetic? Can an entrepreneur be ‘genetically-inclined’? One debatable question is why do entrepreneurial parents have entrepreneurial children? What kinds of opportunities will genetic mapping of entrepreneur offer business entities? Do the big Five Personality Traits [Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agree-Ableness and Neuroticism] play a role? Do genetic factors influence tendency to acquire skills and develop attributes relevant to entrepreneurship? Is it crucial to emphasize that a genetic predisposition to entrepreneurship should definitely, unequivocally, not be confounded with genetic determinism? This paper aims to seek a conceptualistic conformation to the above issues

Automated Competence Assessment Procedures in Entrepreneurship

This study endeavors to automate the assessment of competencies within the domain of entrepreneurship, specifically targeting the augmentation of entrepreneurial cognition and conduct within universities in German rural regions, like Lower Franconia. Employing methods, including literature analyses and expert interviews, we formulated and validated an entrepreneurship competence profile and accompanying self-assessment tool. The ensuing evaluative framework is poised for seamless integration into learning management systems, thereby facilitating intelligent competence monitoring within educational environments. Purpose: The aim of this thesis is to develop an automated competence assessment procedure in the field of entrepreneurship. This can be used in the university environment in the long term to promote and teach entrepreneurial thinking and behavior in order to sustainably improve the quality of learning outcomes and achieve targeted promotion of entrepreneurship. Methodology: Based on a relevant literature analysis, four guideline-based expert interviews were created and conducted. The results of the interviews were compiled and validated in a structured competence profile (entrepreneurship competence profile). Based on this competence catalog for entrepreneurs, an empirically valid self-test was created using standard psychometric questionnaire construction methods. Results: The entrepreneurship competence profile and a consequential empirically validated self-test for competence assessment were created. This test provides the basis for the long-term competence development of students and can further be embedded automatically into a learning management system (LMS) as part of intelligent competence monitoring, which allows for the recording of competencies for each student and the individual incorporation of gap closure into the curriculum. Originality/value: In previous research, there were no competence profiles or competence assessment procedures in the field of entrepreneurship that derived relevant competencies directly from actors within this environment. This work illustrates the development of a competence assessment procedure for entrepreneurs and shows which methods can be used to close prevailing research gaps in the field of intelligent competence monitoring.

Non-probabilistic reasoning in navigating entrepreneurial uncertainty: A psychology of religious faith lens

Uncertainty permeates the world of entrepreneurship. Yet, understanding how entrepreneurs perceive and make decisions in the face of uncertainty remains elusive. The value of Bayesian decision models with their probabilistic-based assumptions is only of limited help to entrepreneurs in solving the problem of uncertainty. This research extends the utility of non-probabilistic modes of entrepreneurial cognition as a supplementary epistemology for shedding light into the ‘black box’ of how entrepreneurs navigate unknowable futures. We conceptualize core insights, on how decision-makers make sense of, interpret, and act amidst life's deep uncertainties. Specifically, we introduce four decision heuristics entrepreneurs adopt—grounded in the shared foundations in broader conceptions of uncertainty from the psychology of religious faith—that help systematize why (a) intuitive insight, (b) generative doubt, (c) redemptive choice, and (d) transcendent faith, enhance our understanding of how elements of uncertainty throughout the venture development journey are often addressed. Implications for future research are discussed.

AUTOEFICÁCIA E BEM-ESTAR PSICOLÓGICO DE EMPREENDEDORAS: UM ESTUDO NA FRONTEIRA BRASIL-ARGENTINA

ABSTRACT The study aimed to compare entrepreneurial self-efficacy and psychological well-being as well as the relationships between these constructs in Brazilian and Argentinean female entrepreneurs. A total of 404 women participated in a survey during a development program at two universities located on the border. The results point to several similarities, which can promote rapprochement and development, and differences, which, if not managed assertively, can lead to conflicts. The results demonstrate associations between entrepreneurial self-efficacy and psychological well-being, thereby expanding the entrepreneurship literature. This study develops the understanding of motivation in entrepreneurial cognition, redefines entrepreneurial success, boaden the scope of women’s entrepreneurial role in this border region, and identifies elements to promote cooperation between female entrepreneurs in both countries. From a managerial point of view, the research shows the need for managers to be aware of cultural differences in everyday actions and negotiations within these territories.

Does the face expression recognition model under the online entrepreneurial education model important for deep learning technologies and entrepreneurial emotions?

AI's rapid development has already affected the economy and society, and it might revolutionize how goods and services are manufactured and categorized. This affects the country's production, employment rate, and competitiveness. This research aims to determine how emotions (good and negative) impact deep learning technologies and company startup intentions. The research also examined how emotion recognition influences online entrepreneurship education and how deep learning and entrepreneurship are connected. In conclusion, the research is one of the pioneering efforts that provides a comprehensive grasp of deep learning and facial recognition in entrepreneurship. 78 of the 650 replies were insufficient, according to the statistics. Some individuals constantly picked 3, while others submitted blank questionnaires. The answer is inadequate. 572 surveys were utilized for the study. Positive emotions affect the urge to establish a company, according to the research. People who are generally happy may be able to develop their entrepreneurial expertise and be more driven to behave entrepreneurially. Positive and negative emotions have a significant impact on the deep learning technology and entrepreneurial intention connection. The findings imply that individuals who often experience pleasant emotions may be better able to improve their entrepreneurial cognition and, as a consequence, their drive to engage in entrepreneurial activity. The facial recognition model in entrepreneurship significantly moderates the relationship between deep learning technology and entrepreneurial intention (=0.262, p 0.001); hence, hypotheses 6, 7, and 8 are validated. This provides support for the hypothesized results, claiming that facial recognition plays a significant role in determining the relationship between deep learning technology and entrepreneurial intention. The results would be significant for university students, academicians, and policymakers as they seek to link practices and outcomes. The study is among the pioneers on issues related to deep learning mechanisms in eastern China.

Specifying the role of religion in entrepreneurial action: a cognitive perspective

AbstractResearch on the relationship between religion and entrepreneurship has produced mixed findings. We argue such equivocal findings are partly the result of under-specification of the role of religion in entrepreneurial action. To address this issue, we build on the process perspective of entrepreneurial cognition by simultaneously incorporating mental representations and cognitive resources. Specifically, we theorize a cognitive process that incorporates both framing effects of opportunity cues and religious belief integration based on sanctification into the assessment of feasibility and desirability of entrepreneurial action. Through two within-subject experiments, we find (i) positively framed opportunity cues yield more favorable assessments of entrepreneurial action than negatively framed opportunity cues, and (ii) religious belief integration moderates the relationship between framing and assessments of entrepreneurial action, enhancing perceived feasibility and desirability when information framing is negative. We discuss the implications of our model to research the theological turn of entrepreneurship and a cognitive perspective of entrepreneurial action.

Cognitive flexibility and business model innovation: mediating roles of active search and bricolage

ABSTRACT Using multiple regression based on data from 322 new ventures from China, this study develops a multiple-mediator framework to explain how new ventures achieve business-model innovation (BMI) under the cognitive view. The study verifies the triggering effect of cognitive flexibility on BMI. Furthermore, it highlights the significance of active search and bricolage as two knowledge-based entrepreneurial learning actions that mediate the relationship between cognitive flexibility and BMI. The study highlights the role of entrepreneurial cognition in facilitating knowledge-management activities for developing BMI in new ventures. Additionally, the study represents a step in new ventures’ BMI development and advances the understanding of entrepreneurial learning by shedding light on the effects of active search and bricolage in the entrepreneurial process.

From Keynes’ “Animal Spirits” to Human Spirits? Passion as the Missing Link(s) in Entrepreneurial Intentions

ABSTRACT Passion seems remarkably important to entrepreneurial behavior and research has done well to explicate its impact, which needs to be celebrated. It also seems to have an outsized effect on entrepreneurial cognition, in particular, entrepreneurial intentions. But how does passion influence intentions? This essay offers a set of possible (and nonexclusive) pathways for passion to affect intent, giving us an agenda for assessing Keynes's assertion of ”animal spirits” as a prime mover of economic decision making under uncertainty. We invite the reader to join this line of research.

From Failing Forward to Thriving

Drawing on entrepreneurial cognition and experiential learning theories, this article explores the complexities of entrepreneurial learning from business failure and its reflections on the entrepreneurial ecosystem. Qualitative research was conducted through individual in-depth interviews and focus groups, and data were subjected to content analysis using NVivo software. The analysed data relate the nature of the failure to its reflections on entrepreneurial learning and the most relevant contents used in the resurgence of the entrepreneur. How the entrepreneurial ecosystem absorbs and recycles learning from failure impacting new business creation was analysed. This study explored emerging economies’ themes based on the triangulation of data from startups from different industries and maturity levels from the perspective of founding partners, directors and employees and incubator and accelerator managers. The article offers a vision of entrepreneurial learning due to exceptional failure. The results presented in this paper demonstrate that learning from a critical event profoundly impacts the performance of entrepreneurial ecosystems and influences their vocation and the accession of new ventures to the industries analysed. These results encourage research in areas such as learning to model or replicating the proposed approach in other ecosystems. In practical terms, the findings can support policymakers in identifying localised factors that can be leveraged to produce macro-level change by identifying appropriate incentives for social networks and experiential knowledge sharing. The article presents a new perspective on entrepreneurial learning. It offers evidence that micro-learning strategies adopted and developed after critical events impact the performance of the entrepreneurial ecosystem related to the creation and diffusion of new ventures.

Strategic sensemaking by social entrepreneurs: creating strategies for social innovation

PurposeThis study explores how a small minority of social entrepreneurs break free from third sector constraints to conceive, create and grow non-profit organisations that generate social value at scale in new and innovative ways.Design/methodology/approachSix narrative case histories of innovative social enterprises were developed based on documents and semi-structured interviews with founders and long serving executives. Data were coded “chrono-processually”, which involves locating thoughts, events and actions in distinct time periods (temporal bracketing) and identifying the processes at work in establishing new social ventures.FindingsThis study presents two core findings. First, the paper demonstrates how successful social entrepreneurs draw on their lived experiences, private and professional, in driving the development and implementation of social innovations, which are realised through application of their capabilities as analysts, strategists and resources mobilisers. These capabilities are bolstered by personal legitimacy and by their abilities as storytellers and rhetoricians. Second, the study unravels the complex processes of social entrepreneurship by revealing how sensemaking, theorising, strategizing and sensegiving underpin the core processes of problem specification, the formulation of theories of change, development of new business models and the implementation of social innovations.Originality/valueThe study demonstrates how social entrepreneurs use sensemaking and sensegiving strategies to understand and address complex social problems, revealing how successful social entrepreneurs devise and disseminate social innovations that substantially add value to society and bring about beneficial social change. A novel process-outcome model of social innovation is presented illustrating the interconnections between entrepreneurial cognition and strategic action.

SECURE II: Unlocking the Potential of Artificial Intelligence for Entrepreneurial Success

This study investigates the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to aid novice entrepreneurs in evaluating their business models prior to launching new ventures. The proposed SECURE II framework integrates symbolic AI, neural AI and ensemble modeling to strengthen ex-ante assessment of business model designs and expected performance outcomes. Machine learning experiments demonstrate that AI modeling uncovers hidden patterns and relationships between pre-launch plans and post-launch results. This enables more informed entrepreneurial decision-making by providing data-driven evaluative feedback. Rather than relying solely on intuition, the interactive AI assessments offer entrepreneurs a simulation mechanism to systematically test assumptions and refine opportunities pre-launch. The ensemble approach combining complementary AI techniques outperforms individual models, underscoring the value of synthesized hybrid intelligence tailored to the entrepreneurial context. By compensating for limitations in human information processing, pattern recognition, and biases, the SECURE II framework augments entrepreneurial cognition during business model formulation. This study elucidates the mechanisms through which AI can expand mental capabilities for opportunity analysis and new venture creation. The proposed toolkit demonstrates strong predictiveness on real-world data, validating the utility of AI to minimize uncertainties and boost startup success.

Multidimensional cognitive style: Linking founders to firm performance through strategy and resource orchestration

This study investigates the role entrepreneurs’ cognitive styles play in choice of opportunity approach strategy and resource orchestration behaviors, and how these relate to venture performance. Based on entrepreneurial cognition literature and current cognitive style framework, we use Upper Echelon Theory to postulate entrepreneurs with different cognitive styles align with different strategic approaches and resource orchestrations to exploit opportunities. In doing so, we adopt a three-dimensional conceptualization of cognitive style (knowing, planning, creating). We attempt to provide a nuanced depiction and explanation of the relationship between cognitive style and firm performance by taking into consideration different decision-making logics (causation and effectuation) as well as different approaches toward resource orchestration (bootstrapping and bricolage). Our findings confirm that implications and impact of firm founders’ cognitive style manifests in different ways based, in part, on the application of both strategic approach logics and resources orchestration techniques.

Integrating entrepreneurial and spiritual identities under uncertainty

This empirical study begins to explore the complex connections between entrepreneurs, spirituality and uncertainty, grounded in the theoretical, even existential, relationships among these elements. Specifically, our contribution consists of a novel analysis and discussion of the interplay between entrepreneurial and spiritual personal identities in uncertain contexts. We consider three related research questions: Does spirituality moderate the relationship between entrepreneurship and comfort under decision uncertainty? Does it in terms of making specific economic choices under uncertainty? And, reciprocally, does entrepreneurship moderate the relationship between spirituality and dealing with uncertainty? Our analysis draws upon survey data of non-naïve respondents, including entrepreneurs. We find that two separate personal identities interact in very different and significant ways even within same context. We also find that identity integration ‘over feelings’ differ from those ‘over decisions’ in the same context, contributing to the affect-rationality debate in entrepreneurial cognition.

Early-stage business model experimentation and pivoting

Recent literature suggests entrepreneurs struggle to pivot—or fundamentally change aspects of their venture—due to identity-based resistance to change. Yet, when entrepreneurs receive negative feedback, overcoming this resistance may be important to pivoting their business model. We adopt a convergent, mixed methods research design to explore when and why some entrepreneurs overcome resistance to change in response to negative feedback during early-stage business model experimentation. Building upon qualitative data that we gathered and analyzed, we theorize entrepreneurs may resist pivoting their value proposition relative to other business model components despite receiving negative feedback on this aspect of their business model. However, we find three factors – entrepreneurial experience, startup mentoring, and team size – may enable entrepreneurs to pivot in response to negative feedback. We theorize that these factors broaden a startup team's perspective, enabling value proposition pivoting during early-stage business model experimentation. We test these relationships with quantitative data from 80 startups engaged in business model experimentation and find support across hypotheses. We contribute to understanding when and why entrepreneurs pivot aspects of their business models in response to negative feedback during early-stage business model experimentation. Executive summaryThe entrepreneurship literature suggests startups may benefit from experimentation and pivoting different parts of their business model in response to negative feedback from stakeholders (Andries et al., 2021; Camuffo et al., 2020; Shepherd and Gruber, 2021). In early stages of starting a new venture, a business model refers to a cognitive schema or belief about an activity system that could potentially create and capture value (Massa et al., 2017; Shepherd and Gruber, 2021). Business model experimentation is the process of testing assumptions underlying this potential business model and pivoting business model assumptions in response to negative feedback (Andries et al., 2013; McDonald and Eisenhardt, 2020; Leatherbee and Katila, 2020). Building upon prior literature, we define business model pivoting as a fundamental change to parts of the business model (Berends et al., 2021; Snihur and Clarysse, 2022; Shepherd and Gruber, 2021). Yet, literature also suggests founders often struggle to pivot assumptions despite negative feedback. Motives to preserve and protect certain assumptions relevant to founders' identities can interfere with pivoting (Grimes, 2018; Kirtley and O'Mahony, 2023; Zuzul and Tripsas, 2020). Despite the general understanding that founders struggle to change their ideas, however, the entrepreneurship literature currently lacks precise insight into when and why founders can overcome resistance to pivoting.In this research, we explore when and why startups pivot different parts of their business model. We do so within the context of early-stage business model experimentation, where founders explicitly state assumptions about different parts of their potential business model, test those assumptions against stakeholder feedback, and are encouraged to pivot business model components in response to negative feedback. Through a mixed methods research design, we find (1) founders tend to resist pivoting their value propositions relative to other parts of a business model in response to negative feedback; and (2) entrepreneurial experience, startup mentoring, and team size enables startups to overcome this resistance to pivoting in response to negative feedback. We theorize these factors broaden founders' perspectives (Warshay, 1962), contributing to a greater willingness to pivot during experimentation.We contribute to the literature on entrepreneurial pivoting by explaining nuanced variation in pivoting distinct business model components during experimentation. This contribution is important because it reveals that resistance to pivoting the business model may be more complex than previously thought. We also contribute to the literature at the nexus of business model experimentation and entrepreneurial cognition by finding that entrepreneurial experience, startup mentoring, and team size enable startups to pivot despite psychological resistance to pivoting in response to negative feedback because it broadens founders' perspectives. This insight is important theoretically because it advances what we know about enabling experimenting with business models under conditions of uncertainty. The research presented here has clear and important implications for practice. This research suggests founders often resist changing the value proposition versus other components of their business models in early stages of venture development. This resistance can impede experimentation and pivoting in response to negative feedback. To the extent founders want to broaden their perspective to enable pivoting their value propositions in response to negative feedback during early stages of venture development, our data suggest they may be able to do so by recruiting members with entrepreneurial experience on their team (or gain entrepreneurial experience themselves), engage frequently with startup mentors, and increase the size of their team. Overall, we view the breath of perspective that comes from experience and interactions with others as an advantage for entrepreneurs when experimenting with their business models during early stages of venture development.