Theory of planned behavior and GEM framework – How can cognitive traits for entrepreneurship be used by incubators and accelerators?

Abstract

PurposeThis research aims at the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and the global entrepreneurship monitor (GEM) framework – How can cognitive traits for entrepreneurship be used by incubators and accelerators?Design/methodology/approachIn this research the authors analyze the factors that catalyze the founding of new technology-based firms. From a practitioner stand-point, the GEM posits that these factors can be classified as contextual, social and individual factors. The present study focuses on the latter, looking into how demographic characteristics, possession of human capital and cognitive traits interrelate. The authors rely on a sample of 141 technological new ventures being incubated in Madrid, Spain, which is analyzed with the multilayer perceptron technique.FindingsThe results show that cognitive traits, as defined in the TPB, act as the “last mile” in the entrepreneurial decision process, while demographic and human capital factors appear to antecede them. These results are relevant for incubators and accelerators, which now gain a better, more complete understanding of success factors of their incubatees.Originality/valueThis research deals both with practitioners' view of entrepreneurship and with scientific literature, intertwining both with the purpose of providing valuable information for incubators and accelerators.

Enablers of students' entrepreneurial intentions: findings from PLS-SEM and fsQCA

“…The TPB posits that cognitive traits influence the entrepreneurial decision-making process, often taking precedence over demographic and human capital factors. This perspective suggests that business incubators could strategically use cognitive traits to foster entrepreneurship to achieve the broader goals of enhancing entrepreneurial orientation and success rates (Morales-Alonso et al. , 2022).…”