Entrepreneurship: a multi-level perspective

Entrepreneurship: a multi-level perspective

This thesis presents three empirical studies that address critical gaps in the entrepreneurship literature by examining common challenges nascent firms face and exploring effective solutions that are inadequately addressed in existing studies. Given the high failure rate of startups, this research provides unique insight into the impact of soft resources, the influence of entrepreneurs’ psychological and intellectual characteristics, and the role of effective strategic decision-making under uncertainty. The inherent resource limitations that startups face necessitate a creative, novel approach to decision-making and to securing diverse resources to survive.

The first study examines angel investors’ and accelerators’ perceptions of the role of non-financial (soft) resources in startup survival.

The second paper explores how entrepreneurs’ intellectual and psychological characteristics impact venture capitalists’ investment decision-making, which plays an influential role in a startup’s survivability.

Finally, the third paper examines social entrepreneurial decision-making under persistent uncertainty, which permeates the competitive landscape.

Thesis director

Prof. Yi Dragon Jiang, Full Professor of Entrepreneurship, ESCP Business School

Referees & Suffragants:

• Prof. Robert Sheldon, Associate Professor of Entrepreneurship and Associate Dean of the Bachelor in Management, ESCP Business School
• Prof. Dirk Schneckenberg, Full Professor of Strategy and Innovation, Rennes School of Business

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