A Comprehensive Examination of Entrepreneurial Networking Within the Indian Entrepreneurial Ecosystem

Abstract

Entrepreneurial networking is critical for early-stage entrepreneurs to sustain their ideas, gather knowledge, and innovate, especially in emerging economies. This qualitative study explores entrepreneurial networking within the Indian entrepreneurial ecosystem, with primary data collected through interviews with 20 entrepreneurship experts, that include educators, government policymakers, investors, mentors and incubation managers. Theoretical bounding provides a clear understanding of the phenomenon. The research employs a grounded theory approach to develop clarity on the factors influencing entrepreneurial networking. The findings suggest that motivation, driven by the entrepreneur’s desire to create impact and other key motivational factors, significantly affects networking behaviour. Trust, encompassing both being trusting and trustworthy, positively influences networking, while networking impacts innovation and venture performance. Entrepreneurial networking facilitates social capital creation within and outside the ecosystem, enabling entrepreneurs to fulfil various early-stage venture needs, such as team formation, securing capital and finding customers and suppliers. This study contributes to the literature by addressing the gap in understanding the entrepreneurial networking phenomenon for early-stage entrepreneurs within the Indian context. The implications of these findings for industry, academia, research and policy are discussed, highlighting the importance of fostering a supportive entrepreneurial ecosystem that encourages networking and collaboration among the various stakeholders.