Entrepreneurial Networks and Venture Growth: Insights from Information Technology Firms in an Emerging Market

Abstract

This study uses the network approach of entrepreneurship to investigate the relationship between networks and the growth of entrepreneurial ventures. Most of the earlier researchers have maintained a static view of entrepreneurial networks which underplays the dynamic nature of networks. This study attempts to identify the major network characteristics during different growth stages of the ventures in the context of India. The data were collected from 173 information technology entrepreneurs through a cross-sectional survey. The study found that the characteristics of network diversity and network governance have a significant discriminative magnitude and thus play a significant role across all growth stages. Endorsement and embeddedness characteristics also have a significant discriminative magnitude but not in the initial stages. However, network inertia and relational mix were found to have a discriminative magnitude only during the survival and success stages of growth. Overall, the study contributes to further extend the dynamic view of entrepreneurial networks with evidences from an emerging market.