The contributions and disconnections between writing a business plan and the start-up process for incubator technology entrepreneurs

Clare Gately, James Cunningham

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

18 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Business plan writing seems the panacea to gain stakeholder legitimacy and financial backing. Our chapter explores the contributions and disconnections between business plan writing and the start-up process for incubated technology entrepreneurs. The study is set in the South East Enterprise Platform Programme (SEEPP), an incubator programme for technology graduate entrepreneurs in the South East of Ireland. Using a purposive sample of technology entrepreneurs in start-up mode, we took a qualitative approach consisting of content analysis of 40 business plans and in-depth interviews with 25 technology entrepreneurs. Our research found that writing a detailed business plan constrains the technology entrepreneur's natural penchant for action, compelling them to focus on business plan writing rather than enactment. Technology entrepreneurs favour a market-led rather than funding-led operational level document to plan, and learn from, near-term activities using milestones.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationAcademic entrepreneurship
Subtitle of host publicationcreating an entrepreneurial ecosystem
EditorsAndrew C. Corbett, Donald S. Siegel, Jerome A Katz
Place of PublicationBingley
Pages197-241
Number of pages45
Volume16
ISBN (Electronic)9781783509836
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 13 Aug 2014
Externally publishedYes

Publication series

NameAdvances in Entrepreneurship, Firm Emergence and Growth
PublisherJAI Press
ISSN (Print)1074-7540

Keywords

  • Business plan
  • Business planning
  • Start-up activities
  • Technology entrepreneur

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