Universities' Influence on Student Decisions to Become Entrepreneurs: Theory and Evidence

This study proposes a theory of the student decision process to become an entrepreneur, adapted from the stage-gate innovation process. According to this model, students choose to open a series of startup "doors" or gates, from awareness through intention and skill-building to the post-graduation startup act itself. We provide empirical evidence drawn from a survey of graduates of Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, many of whom launched startups after graduating. Our survey results complement studies of the antecedents of entrepreneurship intention, with evidence on the antecedents of actual startup behavior. Among our main findings: "Narrative" (story-telling) stage-gates foster awareness of the startup option, experiential stage-gates that simulate startup activities strengthen intention and skills; and diversity of entrepreneurial educational offerings is important.