Knowledge Intensive Entrepreneurship in a Social Capital Perspective

Abstract

In 1989 Mitton suggested that success for start-ups not only depends on who you are but also on whom you know. To study the importance of social capital and networks in relation to entrepreneurial activities, research in a Danish start-up context in two knowledge-intensive sectors has been carried out. The research methodology was based on a triangulation approach including a general questionnaire-based survey conducted through the Internet combined with a 85 in-depth interviews in purposefully sampled ventures. The analysis of the content and structure of social capital in relation to entrepreneurial networking activities in new technology-based small firms shows that teams are primarily composed of 'trusted alters', and that networking patterns and resource acquisition are highly influenced by entrepreneurs' attitude to and perception of networking.

Social and Symbolic Capital and Responsible Entrepreneurship: An Empirical Investigation of SME Narratives

“…After Jacobs, the theory has been used to examine the development of human capital (Coleman 1988), and is being increasingly surfaced in the entrepreneurship field, for example, intensive knowledge (Neergaard & Madsen 2004), venture creation (Liao & Welsch 2005), family business (De Freyman et al 2005;McKeever et al 2005). Coleman (1988) defines social capital by its function.…”

Entrepreneurial Networks and Knowledge Transfer: The Moderating Role of Incubator/Accelerator Affiliation

“…Research focusing on measuring network interaction in terms of frequency, intensity, and durability has revealed that extensive networks are important to the growth of entrepreneurial ventures because they provide access to resources held by other actors within the network (Shaw and Conway, 2000;Neergaard and Madsen, 2004;Shaw, 2006).…”

La formation des équipes entrepreneuriales

“…Les investisseurs sont d'ailleurs soucieux de la bonne entente au sein d'une équipe d'entrepreneurs au-delà du partage des ressources ou compétences. Ainsi que l'indiquent Neergaard et Madsen (2004) Il sera alors intéressant de cerner dans quelle mesure les équipes observées s'inscrivent dans un contexte de liens forts ou de liens faibles.…”

“…Cependant, le type d'entreprises étudiées ne possédant pas les caractéristiques des gazelles ou autres entreprises fortement innovantes n'est pas de nature à retenir l'attention de venture capitalists ou autres business angels. Cet aspect est de nature à orienter les résultats obtenus, les études conduites, par ailleurs, ayant montré que les créations en équipe sont plus fréquentes dans le domaine des technologies (Moreau, 2006 ;Neergaard et Madsen, 2004 ;Bernasconi, 2000). Cependant, nous avons observé une majorité d'équipes dans nos cas d'entrepreneurs ordinaires.…”