Founder’s social ties, learning and entrepreneurial knowledge acquisition in China

Abstract

This study assesses the relationships among founder’s social ties, learning and entrepreneurial knowledge acquisition. Base on Social Network Theory and Entrepreneurial Learning Perspective, eight hypotheses are proposed. Using a sample of 200 new ventures in Chinese transitional economy, we find that both founders’ social ties (business ties, political ties) and entrepreneurial learning (experiential learning, cognitive learning) have positive impacts on entrepreneurial knowledge acquisition. We also examine whether entrepreneurial learning mediates the effects of social ties on entrepreneurial knowledge acquisition. The results show that cognitive learning positively mediates the relationship between social ties and entrepreneurial knowledge acquisition. However, the mediating role of experiential learning is partly supported.