The Performance of Team Start-Ups in the First Phases of the Life Course

17 Pages Posted: 21 Dec 2004

See all articles by Erik Stam

Erik Stam

Utrecht University - School of Economics; Utrecht University - Tjalling C. Koopmans Research Institute

Veronique Schutjens

Utrecht University - Faculty of Geographical Sciences

Date Written: 29 2004, 10

Abstract

This article describes the benefits and pitfalls of starting a firm with an entrepreneurial team, drawing on a longitudinal empirical analysis of the life course of 90 team start-ups and 1196 solo start-ups in the Netherlands. In the first three years of their existence, team start-ups perform better than solo start-ups on several success indicators. However, after this start phase, entrepreneurial teams face particular problems in realizing further growth. These team-specific bottlenecks can even threaten firm survival. In later life course phases we found a clear distinction between entrepreneurial teams with stagnating growth and teams that succeeded in solving these problems and went on to realize further growth.

Keywords: Entrepreneurial teams, start-ups, firm growth, life course analysis

JEL Classification: M, M13, O32

Suggested Citation

Stam, Erik and Schutjens, Veronique, The Performance of Team Start-Ups in the First Phases of the Life Course (29 2004, 10). ERIM Report Series Reference No. ERS-2004-097-ORG, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=636797

Erik Stam (Contact Author)

Utrecht University - School of Economics ( email )

Kriekenpitplein 21-22
Adam Smith Building
Utrecht, +31 30 253 7373 3584 EC
Netherlands

Utrecht University - Tjalling C. Koopmans Research Institute ( email )

Adam Smith Building
Kriekenpitplein 21-22
Utrecht, 3584 EC
Netherlands

Veronique Schutjens

Utrecht University - Faculty of Geographical Sciences ( email )

Postbus 80.115
3508 TC Utrecht
Netherlands

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