The interplay between human, social and cognitive resources of nascent entrepreneurs

This study integrates human, social and cognitive capital traits into a model of nascent entrepreneurial capital. We hypothesise that the cognitive traits of nascent entrepreneurs play a significant role in moderating the impact of human and social capital endowments on the outcome of the nascent entrepreneurship process. Thus, differences in cognitive traits explain why nascent entrepreneurs with similar stocks of human and social capital resources may experience different outcomes. Using data from the Panel Study of Entrepreneurial Dynamics (PSED), we find that models incorporating cognitive capital traits as moderating variables of human and social capital have a greater explanatory power of nascent entrepreneurship outcomes than models that consider these com-ponents of nascent entrepreneurial capital in isolation. The implications of our results are important for researchers, nascent entrepreneurs, venture capitalists and SME support agencies.