Entrepreneurs from Technology-Based Universities

47 Pages Posted: 27 Feb 2006

See all articles by David H. Hsu

David H. Hsu

University of Pennsylvania - Management Department

Edward B. Roberts

Founder/Chair, Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship

Charles E. Eesley

Stanford University - Management Science & Engineering

Date Written: February 2006

Abstract

This paper analyzes major patterns and trends in entrepreneurship among technology-based university alumni since the 1930s by asking two related research questions: (1) Who enters entrepreneurship, and has this changed over time?; and (2) How does the rate of entrepreneurship vary with changes in the entrepreneurial business environment? We describe findings based on data from two linked datasets joining Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) alumni and founder information. New company formation rates by MIT alumni have grown dramatically over seven decades, and the median age of first time entrepreneurs has gradually declined from about age 40 (1950s) to about age 30 (1990s). Women alumnae lag their male counterparts in the rate at which they become entrepreneurs, and alumni who are not U.S. citizens enter entrepreneurship at different (often higher) rates relative to their American classmates. New venture foundings over time are correlated with measures of the changing external entrepreneurial and business environment, suggesting that future research in this domain may wish to more carefully examine such factors.

Keywords: Entrepreneurship, University Alumni

Suggested Citation

Hsu, David H. and Roberts, Edward B. and Eesley, Charles E., Entrepreneurs from Technology-Based Universities (February 2006). MIT Sloan Research Paper No. 4596-06, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=886785 or http://dx.doi.org/10.2139/ssrn.886785

David H. Hsu (Contact Author)

University of Pennsylvania - Management Department ( email )

The Wharton School
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6370
United States
215-746-0125 (Phone)
215-898-0401 (Fax)

Edward B. Roberts

Founder/Chair, Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship ( email )

100 Main Street, E62-440
Cambridge, MA 02142
United States
617-253-4934 (Phone)
617-253-2660 (Fax)

Charles E. Eesley

Stanford University - Management Science & Engineering ( email )

473 Via Ortega
Stanford, CA 94305-9025
United States

HOME PAGE: http://chuckeesley.com

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