The Role Models as Determinants of New Technology-Based Firms
The new technology-based firms (NTBF) are a key element of economic growth, and therefore, understanding NTBF´s driving forces becomes a particularly important field of study. Relatively few studies have addressed the analysis of the determinants of technology entrepreneurship (TE), and those that did, have paid more attention to institutional or external factors (Aceytuno & de Paz, 2008). Role models have received less attention but seem to play a determinant role regarding TE (Venkataraman, 2004). The present chapter aims to analyse whether these role models and its proximity to potential entrepreneurs influence the NTBF creation. Using a sample of 65 countries over the period 2006-2013, we apply panel data random effect models. Overall, empirical evidence revealed that the variables media attention on entrepreneurship and personally know an entrepreneur exert significant influence on TE.