Nascent Technology Entrepreneurship among Bulgarian STEM Students

Technology entrepreneurship may contribute significantly to economic development and innovation. Little research has investigated the role of the university in technology entrepreneurship among STEM (science, technology, engineering or mathematics) students. More research into the entrepreneurial intentions–behaviour link is needed. This paper aims to identify university-related factors that may contribute to the translation of technopreneurial implementation intentions into actions in a sample of 200 STEM students. The variables university research excellence and perceptions of business development support significantly influence the likelihood of nascent technopreneurial behaviour. This study contributes to a greater understanding of the technopreneurial process and the drivers of technopreneurial behaviour among STEM students. The results of this study may help to enhance nascent entrepreneurship among Bulgarian STEM students.

Nascent entrepreneur characteristic predictors of early-stage entrepreneurship outcomes

PurposeSocial cognitive theory suggests that entrepreneurs' characteristics affect entrepreneurial outcomes through interaction with their environment. This study examines the relationship between entrepreneurs' characteristics and performance in the context of entrepreneurial nascence.Design/methodology/approachThis study investigated lagged-panel responses from a sample of 100 confirmed nascent entrepreneurs. Data collected on three separate occasions included core self-evaluations, commitment, fear of failure and success. PLS analysis was used to assess mediation of commitment on the self-evaluation – success relationship.FindingsCore self-evaluations are an important predictor of entrepreneurial success in nascent-stage entrepreneurs participating in pre-venture assistance programs; positively affecting success and commitment, while negatively affecting fear of failure.Research limitations/implicationsThis investigation contributes to a fuller understanding of social cognitive theory as it pertains to nascent entrepreneurship. Furthermore, contrary to general expectations found in the entrepreneurship literature, the authors uncover a context where entrepreneurs' characteristics are relevant predictors of early entrepreneurial outcomes.Practical implicationsResults showed core self-evaluations as a robust predictor of perceived success in nascent entrepreneurs. Administrators of pre-venture assistance programs should consider screening applicants to programs designed to assist nascent entrepreneurial opportunity development for signs of high core self-evaluations.Originality/valueThis study advances theory by (1) demonstrating the value of assessing nascent entrepreneurs' core self-evaluations as a specific predictor of early-stage entrepreneurial outcomes, (2) suggesting social interaction amidst participation in pre-venture assistance programs makes commitment a salient part of perceived success and (3) providing evidence that entrepreneur-level characteristics need consideration in the context of nascent entrepreneurship and pre-venture assistance programs.

The effect of entrepreneurship education on nascent entrepreneurship

The literature has been enriched by studies examining the effect of entrepreneurship education on entrepreneurial or goal intention. Yet, few articles have considered how entrepreneurship education affects nascent entrepreneurship as a more sought-after outcome. Similarly, some scholars assess entrepreneurship education as an aggregate rather than a multidimensional construct comprised of alternative methods with peculiar characteristics yielding distinct student outcomes. Possibly, the present shortage of specificity in the investigation of methods in entrepreneurship education reduces empirical understanding of efficacious teaching and learning modes for optimising entrepreneurial behaviour. Hence, by way of contribution, this inquiry isolates and measures the direct effect of courses, workshops, guest speakers and simulations on new venture creation among UK students. It also measures indirect influence in the same relationships, with self-efficacy as a mediator. A structural equation analysis is performed and the findings show that discretely, in this order, simulations, workshops and courses stimulate nascent entrepreneurship. However, there is particular insignificance in the direct link between guest speakers and nascent entrepreneurship, and further dissociation in the indirect link between workshops and simulations leading to self-efficacy. Theoretical implications arise for future correlation and configurational studies, as well as practical ramifications for entrepreneurship education practitioners, simulation developers and public institutions.

Nascent Entrepreneurship: Exploratory Research Based on Systematic Literature Review and Text Analysis

A brilliant idea means nothing if it stays in someone’s mind and doesn’t come to life. The process of an idea developed into a new business is very unstable, like a balloon in the wind that can blow in any possible direction. Sometimes the idea gets thrown away, sometimes it creates something extraordinary. Studies on nascent entrepreneurs contribute to the understanding of the factors affecting the intention of an individual to become an entrepreneur. Nascent entrepreneurship is a rather new topic of research. There are large number of journals on the topic only since the early 2000’s. There are several challenges in defining the topic accurately since the beginning and the end of the process is not always clear. Sometimes it is difficult to distinguish between the idea phase and the ongoing work in progress. In addition, research results are difficult to compare with each other because of conceptual uncertainties and different approaches. In this paper the most important literary background related to nascent entrepreneurship is presented. In this study, keyword searches reveal the most frequently researched conceptual approaches to the intention of starting a new business. In the critical analysis of selected papers, the research is confined to the field of business and management and economics, which I explore with the steps of the Systematic Literature Review methodology. In the comprehensive literature review is based on bibliometric analysis and quantitative text analysis. Results, proposals and future research areas are also presented.

A campus start-up ecosystem for mechanical engineering students: Challenges, approaches, catalysts and solutions

Start-up ecosystems are emerging rapidly worldwide. The speed of technology innovation and the diversity of business ideas keep the start-up landscape in constant flux. While many emerging start-ups are in the areas of electronics and information sciences, the field of mechanical engineering has huge potential that has yet to be exploited. Today’s mechanical engineering students need to be well positioned to recognize and seize potential start-up opportunities. This study examines the involvement of Indian mechanical engineering students in campus start-ups and the challenges they face in nascent entrepreneurship. Structural equation modelling was applied to a sample of 396 final-year undergraduate mechanical engineering students from the APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University in Kerala. Data collection was achieved through a questionnaire developed on the basis of existing literature, feedback and market research. The findings highlight the currently prevailing barriers and best practices, and recommendations are derived for leveraging the nascent entrepreneurship potential of the mechanical engineering discipline. The negative effects of the barriers are positively moderated by the activities of campus-based entrepreneurship centres. The study results provide insights into the role of universities, higher education departments and government agencies in promoting a sustainable campus start-up culture through entrepreneurial learning.

Determinants of Nascent Entrepreneurship Development

The current international economic crisis, at the moment of writing, will affect global economy and will demand entrepreneurial attitude to seize business opportunities. Nascent entrepreneurship emerged as an important concept in the boundary between entrepreneurship and organizational contexts. Literature on nascent entrepreneurship has only gained attention recently, thus remaining diverse and limited, particularly concerning their interplay with contexts and varying entrepreneurial processes. This study reviews those themes on nascent entrepreneurship and it enhances the way contextual challenges are addressed by nascent entrepreneurs, through diverse entrepreneurial leaning and entrepreneurial capability.

Much More Than Meets the Eye

Nascent entrepreneurship plays an important role in the study of entrepreneurship. It has been studied from different angles, especially from the psychological and sociological perspective as nascent entrepreneurs have distinctive traits and competencies. Other important foci of research are the investigation of the environment in which nascent entrepreneurs operate, as well as the way both the identification and exploitation of entrepreneurial opportunities have emerged. The main objective of this chapter is to address (1) the main individual characteristics that entrepreneurs have in common; (2) the environmental factors contributing to new venture creation; and (3) the steps in the creation process. The chapter departs from the fundamental process of nascent entrepreneurship, which is centered on opportunity recognition, evaluation, and exploitation, and is complemented by the way how contextual factors and personal characteristics and competencies influence the new venture creation process.