Support for Rapid‐Growth Firms: A Comparison of the Views of Founders, Government Policymakers, and Private Sector Resource Providers

Abstract

The paper contrasts the perspectives of firm owners, government policy advisers, and external resource providers on how rapid‐growth firms should be supported. Qualitative data were analyzed to identify similarities and differences in groups’ perspectives. The research indicates that each group sees its roles as critical. Policymakers and external resources providers have incentives to interact with rapid‐growth firms. Rapid‐growth firms have incentives to obtain advice from government sources and external resource providers but prefer to obtain advice from their peers. These findings suggest a network‐based approach to the support of rapid growth that is consistent with a new Ontario‐based program, the Innovators Alliance.