Title: The early development of Born Global firms in the software industry

Authors: Jody Wren, Mika Gabrielsson

Addresses: Faculty of International Business, Helsinki School of Economics, Lapuankatu 6, PL1210, 00101, Helsinki, Finland. ' Faculty of International Business, Helsinki School of Economics, Lapuankatu 6, PL1210, 00101, Helsinki, Finland

Abstract: This paper explores the early development of five Finnish Born Globals in the software industry, including the characteristics of Born Globals at and post-inception. Results show that Born Globals are not always founded by entrepreneurs with a global mindset and international business experience. Instead founders often resemble the entrepreneurs of the classical start-up development models and are technology-minded with limited knowledge of planning or marketing techniques. As a result, it is not unusual for the venture capitalist investors of Born Globals to push for the installation of an internationally experienced manager as firm CEO once product development is complete.

Keywords: born globals; planning; global mindset; start-up development; software industry; born global firms; Finland; entrepreneurship; internationalisation.

DOI: 10.1504/IJTTC.2011.040894

International Journal of Technology Transfer and Commercialisation, 2011 Vol.10 No.3/4, pp.332 - 353

Published online: 31 Jan 2015 *

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