Entrepreneurial Team Formation: An Exploration of New Member Addition

Abstract

We explored in this article the process of entrepreneurial team formation. As theory specific to this topic is scant, we drew first on disparate views of team formation and its correlates; we then called upon in–depth interviews to provide deeper, nuanced insights into this dynamic process of creation. Our focus is team member addition. We identified resource–seeking and interpersonal attraction as primary alternative motivators for new teammate addition; however, we also illustrated how these motivations may be complementary in practice. Finally, we considered in some depth how new member identification and selection processes may unfold as new ventures are formed.