Digital platforms and entrepreneurial support: a field experiment in online mentoring

Lall, S. A. , Chen, L.-W. and Mason, D. (2022) Digital platforms and entrepreneurial support: a field experiment in online mentoring. Small Business Economics, (doi: 10.1007/s11187-022-00704-8) (Early Online Publication)

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Abstract

The benefits of entrepreneurial mentorship are well documented, but there is limited research on how entrepreneurs connect with mentors, especially in digital settings. We partnered with an online platform that connects entrepreneurs to potential mentors to conduct a field experiment in online mentoring. Drawing on literature on entrepreneurial mentorship and Social Cognitive Theory, we compared the effects of three interventions on the likelihood of reaching out and making a connection with a mentor in a digital setting. We find that showing entrepreneurs a video of a successful mentor–mentee relationship increases the chances that they will reach out to a potential mentor but does not improve their chances of making a connection. These findings are more pronounced for female entrepreneurs. While not all entrepreneurs adopt the offered interventions, those that make the effort to learn to navigate the online platform and craft a suitable introductory message are successful in establishing a mentoring connection. We discuss these implications for both theory and practice.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Early Online Publication
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:Lall, Dr Saurabh
Authors: Lall, S. A., Chen, L.-W., and Mason, D.
College/School:College of Social Sciences > Adam Smith Business School > Management
Journal Name:Small Business Economics
Publisher:Springer
ISSN:0921-898X
ISSN (Online):1573-0913
Published Online:25 October 2022
Copyright Holders:Copyright © The Author(s) 2022
First Published:First published in Small Business Economics 2022
Publisher Policy:Reproduced under a Creative Commons license

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