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Entrepreneurial learning in venture acceleration programs

Diamanto Politis (Sten K. Johnson Centre for Entrepreneurship, School of Economics and Management, Lund University, Lund, Sweden)
Jonas Gabrielsson (Halmstad University, Halmstad, Sweden)
Nataliya Galan (School of Business, Economics and IT, University West, Trollhättan, Sweden)
Solomon Akele Abebe (Sten K. Johnson Centre for Entrepreneurship, School of Economics and Management, Lund University, Lund, Sweden)

The Learning Organization

ISSN: 0969-6474

Article publication date: 13 August 2019

Issue publication date: 19 November 2019

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Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to better understand entrepreneurial learning in the context of venture acceleration programs.

Design/methodology/approach

A qualitative research strategy was used based on multiple in-depth interviews with 21 lead entrepreneurs complemented with participatory observations and secondary sources. The data were inductively analysed following the Gioia methodology (Gioia et al., 2012).

Findings

The authors build on experiential learning theory to generate a process-focussed model exploring the learning dynamics that venture acceleration programs can facilitate. In this model, the authors identify three catalysts that trigger processes of experiential learning and two contingencies that alleviate the effects of the catalysts on learning outcomes. The findings suggest that the potential of venture acceleration programs to be effective learning environments pends on the presence and quality of these catalysts and contingencies.

Originality/value

The findings provide novel insights on how venture acceleration programs trigger entrepreneurial learning, thereby offering a deeper understanding of the learning dynamics in this setting.

Keywords

Citation

Politis, D., Gabrielsson, J., Galan, N. and Abebe, S.A. (2019), "Entrepreneurial learning in venture acceleration programs", The Learning Organization, Vol. 26 No. 6, pp. 588-603. https://doi.org/10.1108/TLO-04-2018-0082

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited

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