Experience and New Venture Performance

Is an entrepreneur’s previous experience relevant in predicting the success or otherwise of a new business venture? Common sense would suggest that this undoubtedly be the case. Current research suggests otherwise, however. As elucidated in this volume, a business founder’s prior experience can have either a positive or a negative impact on the performance of any given start-up venture. This book aims to explore these inconsistencies through in-depth case studies of six diverse entrepreneurs. The research conclusions drawn during the course of this book differ significantly from much contemporary theory in the subject area that is entrepreneurial research. This book serves to shed new light on the importance of previous business-founder experience while also underlining the importance of context in the application of same within new business ventures.