How does entrepreneurial curiosity lead to Chinese undergraduates’ new venture idea: the mediation of promotion focus and the moderation of entrepreneurial education

Abstract

Abstract Background New venture idea is an “imagined future venture”, it’s more valuable and practical than entrepreneurial opportunity which has been widely studied before for undergraduates’ entrepreneurship. Based on the regulatory focus theory, this study aims to explore how two different types of entrepreneurial curiosity (I-type entrepreneurial curiosity and D-type entrepreneurial curiosity) affect the undergraduates’ new venture idea through promotion focus, as well as the moderating effect of entrepreneurial education. Methods With a sample of 650 undergraduates in Chinese universities through questionnaire star platform, this study used a PLS-SEM to test hypotheses. Results The results indicated that promotion focus played a full mediating effect between D-type entrepreneurial curiosity and new venture idea, and a partial mediating effect between I-type entrepreneurial curiosity and new venture idea. In addition, entrepreneurial education moderated those mediating effects. Conclusions The results highlighted the importance of stimulating undergraduates’ entrepreneurial curiosity so as to form more new venture ideas. Also, it suggested that universities need to improve undergraduates’ promotion focus by optimizing the teaching strategies and contexts of entrepreneurial education, as well as create a good atmosphere of entrepreneurial support.