Early Development of New Technology-Based Firms: How Internal and External Resource Dimensions Impact and Structure the Firm

Doctoral thesis, 2019

How do founders’ and firms’ business environment impact the early development of new technology-based firms (NTBFs)? In order to answer this question, this thesis explores how internal and external resource dimensions impact and structure the early development of NTBFs. NTBFs are known for their technological innovation and their abilities to boost economic growth and development. These new, young firms are vulnerable in their first years of development, and their development is dependent on resources related to the founders and external business environment. Impacts from these internal and external resource dimensions provide means for firms to develop. Explaining how these dimensions together influence the early development of NTBFs would broaden the perspective on these firms in their first years, clarifying the type of support required for these firms. Examining NTBFs both qualitatively and quantitatively, the thesis analysed the structuring of the early development and the impacts on it, including business- and innovation performance, and initial business models. Findings reveal that the early development is affected by internal resource dimensions, such as founders’ previous business experiences and relationships within their business environment, and by external resource dimensions such as the type of business networks and firm localisation. However, impacts from these internal or external resource dimensions differ over time depending on founders’ experiences, maturity, and self-trust, and hence one dimension or the other dominates the early development. The thesis contributes to the research on NTBFs and entrepreneurship, describing and analysing imprinting effects of the aforementioned dimensions, such as founders’ attitudes, on the firms’ early development. It also discussed how the external business environment becomes less influential on the firms’ development as the founders rely more on own decisions to do business.