Over the duration of the grant, the research program has met the objectives as set out in the original proposal.
OBJECTIVE 1
We have collected granular qualitative data of the networking behavior of entrepreneurs and innovators. For entrepreneurs, we have performed a qualitative study of 50 experienced entrepreneurs in the entrepreneurial ecosystem of London and Paris and 230 hours of participant observation at entrepreneurial networking events. This work documents how entrepreneurs who are initially “unembedded” become gradually more embedded. For innovators, we have performed a range of interviews with R&D managers and R&D scientists inside a large multinational firm.
OBJECTIVE 2
We performed two sets of networking experiments that allow us to monitor the networking behaviors of entrepreneurs and innovators in a granular way. First, we performed an experiment in the form of a networking game to emulate the search for expertise through networking in event-like settings using sociometric badges developed by the MIT Media Labs. We find that letting others approach yields more referrals than taking the initiative in starting conversations, and that planning increases the tendency to maintain such initiative even when doing so is ineffective. Second, we collected experimental data on network mobilization behaviors of boundary-spanners: individuals with job roles across two different domains (e.g. academia and industry). Our findings imply that it may not be sufficient for organizations seeking to promote the cross-fertilization of ideas to allocate individuals to boundary-spanning roles; they need to train and encourage their staff to identify with the domains at both sides of the boundary to enable to fully leverage the potential from boundary spanning.
OBJECTIVE 3
We published two articles in relation to this objective, and a third one is currently under review. The first paper, accepted for publication in the Administrative Science Quarterly (2020), focuses on networking behavior in a corporate innovation setting and seeks to determine the extent to which individuals dividing the work across roles can also benefit from dividing their networking. The second paper, published in the Academy of Management Journal (2023), draws from the same context but focuses on the impact of network sequencing on individual innovation performance. A third paper, currently in progress, links the network mobilization decisions of academic scientists to their ability to publish high-impact scientific outputs.
OBJECTIVE 4
First, at the micro-level, we examined the role of interaction “pacing” at networking events using second-generation sociometric badges. Second, at a more macro-level, we investigated the role of social influence and imitation as a critical mechanism linking networks and innovation outcomes. In a study, published in Research Policy (2023), we examined the exit dynamics in open multiparty alliances, an important form of interfirm collaboration.
OBJECTIVE 5.
We performed a project that examined why some firms are better able than others to take advantage of the rich network opportunity space that entrepreneurial ecosystems provide. In this study, we introduce the notion of showcasing strategies and assess their effect on entrepreneurial ventures’ ability to obtain a first round of funding. Based on a comprehensive dataset of London-based technology ventures combining Crunchbase, LinkedIn and Twitter data (and using machine-learning), we find that entrepreneurs who showcase their similarity to established entrepreneurs in the ecosystem, and who balance between showcasing the specific achievements of their company and discussing more general issues relevant for their sector increase the likelihood of obtaining a first round of funding.
