Influence of Business Incubators Performance on Entrepreneurial Intentions and Its Antecedents during the Pre-incubation Stage

Abstract

The pre-incubation phase is critical in the forming of entrepreneur?s intention and however it is almost missing in literature. Using the entrepreneurship models based on the beliefs?attitude?intention relationship, a sample of 167 pre-incubated entrepreneurs within the well-known System of Business Incubators of the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education was surveyed and its statistical analysis developed with Structural Equation Modelling methodology. Our findings confirm that (1) entrepreneur?s perception concerning the incubator?s performance directly and positively affects the desirability, self-efficacy and the facilitating conditions, (2) the perceived desirability and feasibility in entrepreneurship, as well as the first ones, self-efficacy and facilitating conditions, positively influence the entrepreneurial intentions. Furthermore, contrary to the traditional mind-set that supports risk is a barrier, results suggest that (3) the risk perceived by pre-incubated entrepreneurs positively influences entrepreneurial intentions and the desirability that is attributed to that behaviour. Finally, these results also provide insights for organizational leaders and policymakers into managing business incubators and organising their formative programs. The effectiveness of incubators is clear but it is also important to communicate it properly so that incubated individuals can perceive it.