Title: Serial entrepreneur and entrepreneurial learning – a case study from Finland

Authors: Arto Kuuluvainen

Addresses: TSE Entre, Turku School of Economics, Rehtorinpellonkatu 3, 20500 Turku, Finland

Abstract: This study provides insights into the characteristics and behaviour of serial entrepreneurs. The study emphasises the role of experience in serial entrepreneurship. The main focus is to illustrate how serial entrepreneurs can use their previous entrepreneurial experiences in their entrepreneurial career. The case introduced in this paper is that of a young Finnish serial entrepreneur. His story fits to some of the earlier findings in the field, but it also offer new insights into earlier results. Results show that the serial entrepreneur in question firmly and continuously exploited entrepreneurial learning and experiences in his entrepreneurial career. When moving to new business in a new industry, the serial entrepreneur may be capable of thinking |outside the box|, and hence to innovate. Findings also suggest that a new generation of entrepreneurs, with less risk-averse approaches to entrepreneurship, may enhance more positive attitudes about entrepreneurship in general.

Keywords: entrepreneurial learning; serial entrepreneurs; entrepreneurship; Finland; entrepreneurial education; risk averse.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBG.2010.029524

International Journal of Business and Globalisation, 2010 Vol.4 No.1, pp.55 - 70

Published online: 30 Nov 2009 *

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