Accelerating into Control

Innovations Vol. 8, Issue 3/4, pp. 139-148, 2013

14 Pages Posted: 26 Jan 2014

Date Written: December 1, 2013

Abstract

Researchers have generally found that entrepreneurs are more optimistic and more confident than non-entrepreneurs. While it may help entrepreneurs persevere in the face of potential business failure, we cannot mistake their confidence for always knowing what to do with their business idea. Entrepreneurs in fact seek out mentors and other useful connections to help them succeed throughout the growth of their businesses, particularly at the start. Many entrepreneurs seek advice informally and in a piecemeal manner, but some seek more formal assistance through structured or semi-structured entrepreneurship programs. Indeed, we currently are witnessing the rise of the “support ecosystem,” which offers a plethora of entrepreneurship education and training programs. These programs vary in their design and operation; some, for example, are run by universities and colleges, some are offered by nonprofits or the government, and others are offered by for-profit entities. They might operate just a weekend in length, or last several months or years. The scope of a program’s intervention and how closely it works with each entrepreneur or startup varies widely. With this increase in the number and scope of program offerings, we wonder if adoption is outpacing evidence of their effectiveness. In this article, we examine various types of programs, with a primary focus on the accelerator, provide some context for current research and research concepts in this area, and discuss some implications of collecting data for program operators and policymakers.

Keywords: startup, accelerator, entrepreneur, policy

Suggested Citation

Konczal, Jared, Accelerating into Control (December 1, 2013). Innovations Vol. 8, Issue 3/4, pp. 139-148, 2013, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2384727

Jared Konczal (Contact Author)

Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation ( email )

4801 Rockhill Road
Kansas City, MO 64110-2046
United States

Do you have negative results from your research you’d like to share?

Paper statistics

Downloads
85
Abstract Views
790
Rank
531,415
PlumX Metrics