Nascent Entrepreneurs Access and Use of Network Resources in a Technology Incubator

Abstract

This study utilized the setting of a technology incubator to analyze how nascent entrepreneurs develop and leverage networks to secure resources as part of the venture creation process. Through rigorous qualitative methods, we examined how six medical device entrepreneurs used networks to obtain needed resources, the types of resources pursued and differences among entrepreneurs based on their level of network skill. Our findings illustrate the importance of the incubator in providing both tangible resources (funding, space, equipment) and less tangible but equally important resources (credibility, relationships, access to networks). Initial findings suggest that differences in the level of an entrepreneurs' network skill relate to the development, but not necessarily the success, of the venture.RéSUMé. Cette étude examine la façon dont les nouveaux entrepreneurs établissent et tirent parti des réseaux pour obtenir des ressources dans le cadre du processus de création de l'entreprise dans le contexte d'un incubateur de technologie. En faisant appel à de rigoureuses méthodes qualitatives, les auteurs ont examiné la façon dont six entrepreneurs dans le domaine du matériel médical ont tiré parti de réseaux pour obtenir les ressources nécessai-res, les genres de ressources recherchées, et les différences entre les entrepreneurs selon leur degré d'habileté de réseautage. Les résultats obtenus révèlent l'importance de l'incubateur dans l'obtention de ressources tangibles (financement, locaux, équipement) ainsi que de ressources moins tangibles, mais tout aussi importantes (crédibi-lité, relations, accès à des réseaux). Les résultats préliminaires indiquent que le degré d'habileté de réseautage est lié au développement, mais non à la réussite, de l'entreprise.

Resource and Information Access for SME Sustainability in the Era of IR 4.0: The Mediating and Moderating Roles of Innovation Capability and Management Commitment

“…The sustainability of any SME is argued to be affected by various factors, among which is the access to resources [75][76][77]. Consequently, a lot of scholars have devoted much of their attention to explaining the critical impact resources have on SME sustainability [27,78,79]. According to resource-advantage theory, resources are "tangible and intangible entities available to the firm that enable it to produce efficiently and effectively" [80].…”

Why are small public incubators 'lagging behind'? Learning from disability in the selection practices of a French incubator

“…In response to these problems, IncubLR tried to encourage the development of networking and 'peer support' among the incubatees. Nascent entrepreneurs view the incubators as a nexus of resource networks (Tello et al, 2012). But our results suggest that trying to involve the most mature tenants was insufficient, as overall IncubLR had no real internal network and little cooperation among the tenants, despite the director's decision to develop internal and external networking.…”

“…The second generation, which appeared in the early 90s, had a qualitative range of services (consulting and training) and also provided funds for tenant companies. The third generation appeared in the early 2000s and focuses on technology projects (Bollingtoft, 2012) and the provision of resources through networks (Bruneel et al, 2012;Tello et al, 2012). The work of Bruneel et al (2012) shows the differences between incubator modes of operation through the generations.…”

Surviving through Incubation Based on Entrepreneurship-Specific Human Capital Development: The Moderating Role of Tenants’ Network Involvement

“…Network involvement means entrepreneurs take active part in different kinds of cooperation resulting from distinct services [38,39]. Tenants can occupy a favorable network location by actively taking part in diverse networks [40]. According to the theory of social network, incremental nodes and attachments embedded in an emotional communication network and financial support networks resulting from network involvement improve tenants' connectivity and hierarchy [41], while a node's connectivity and hierarchy belong to the structural dimension of social capital [22].…”