Mentor expectations and entrepreneurial venture creation: mediating role of the sense of nothing to lose and entrepreneurial resilience

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this study is to investigate the influence of mentor expectations on nascent entrepreneur’s venture creation and how this relationship strengthens/weakens when mediated by the sense of nothing to lose and entrepreneurial resilience.

Design/methodology/approach

The author nested the data from mentors and protégé entrepreneurs by using a questionnaire survey. Mentors were those individuals who were established entrepreneurs and involved in training to protégé entrepreneurs. Protégé entrepreneurs were those who were part of the cohorts in incubation centers for training and startup training.

Findings

Data revealed that it was unlikely to create a new venture when mentors displayed low expectations in protégé entrepreneurs. However, this relationship was positively mediated by the sense of nothing to lose and entrepreneurial resilience.

Practical implications

The findings have important implications on how mentor expectations can hinder protégé entrepreneurs’ venture creation and how it turns around when entrepreneurs display the ability of nothing to lose and resilience.

Originality/value

Mentorship from other experienced individuals has become essential to entrepreneurs and their fledgling ventures. Although there is an acknowledgment that mentoring improves an entrepreneur’s likelihood of success in a new venture, yet far too little the authors know about the degree of expectations in mentor-mentee relationships and new venture creation. This research connects those pieces of the puzzle and fills the gap.

Citation

Dost, M., Shah, S.M.M. and Saleem, I. (2022), "Mentor expectations and entrepreneurial venture creation: mediating role of the sense of nothing to lose and entrepreneurial resilience", Journal of Entrepreneurship in Emerging Economies, Vol. 14 No. 6, pp. 1229-1243. https://doi.org/10.1108/JEEE-04-2021-0136