In my research, I have focused on problems facing real world entrepreneurs. Entrepreneurship offers a unique context where streams of research from both the micro and macro perspectives converge. I have benefited from both perspectives and my research has evolved to exploring the links between the two perspectives. Below is a list of projects, both I have worked on and those that are ongoing.

My thesis focuses on the process by which entrepreneurs build capabilities by accessing resources from their partners. Entrepreneurs typically do not own resources necessary to realize value from their idea and need to access resources from their partners. While there is agreement about entrepreneurs accessing resources from potential partners, there is very little guidance on exactly who they should approach first and the implications of their first choice on the likelihood of attracting future partners. In my thesis, I build theory that accounts for interdependence among partner choices made by the entrepreneur. By focusing on interdependencies between partner choices, I am able to prescribe better partnering strategies for entrepreneurs. I plan to validate my theoretical framework using a unique dataset developed by following a cohort of entrepreneurial firms and their prospective partners and documenting the series of partnering transactions in the US bio-pharmaceutical industry from 1990-2007.

1. Gupta, V. K., Turban, D. B., & Bhawe, N. M. 2008. The effect of stereotype activation on entrepreneurial intentions. Journal of Applied Psychology, 93(5): 1053-1061.
2. Zahra, S. A., Rawhouser, H., Bhawe, N. M., Neubaum, D. O., & Hayton, J. C. 2008. Globalization of social entrepreneurship opportunities. Strategic Entrepreneurship Journal, 2(2): 117-131. 
3. Gupta, V. K., & Bhawe, N. M. 2007. The influence of proactive personality and stereotype threat on women’s entrepreneurial intentions. Journal of Leadership & Organizational Studies, 13(4), 73-85.

Current Projects

Bhawe, N. M., & Rawhouser, H. 2010. Does the order in which entrepreneurs accumulate resources matter?

To launch their new ventures successfully, entrepreneurs have to decide the most efficient sequence of accumulating resources. While the literature highlights the importance of the early resource choices made by entrepreneurs, it provides little guidance on how entrepreneurs should accumulate these resources. In this study, we develop theory and hypotheses on efficient ordering of resource choices by identifying interdependencies among these. We test our predictions using a longitudinal sample of resource sequences of 4928 firms formed in 2004 and followed over a period of four years.

Bhawe, N. M. 2010. Opportunity windows and entry timing: Evidence from bio-pharmaceutical industry.

New technology entrepreneurs face a tough tradeoff when making decisions related to entry timing—when should they stop developing their technology and start selling? While early technology entrants can gain first mover advantage by pioneering a new technology and capturing early customers, empirical evidence suggests that early entrants also suffer increased mortality—often labeled as the liability of newness. In this study, I use the interplay between two regulatory processes—the patent process and the FDA approval process in the bio-pharmaceutical industry to test the dichotomy between waiting to improve technology and entering early. Using a semi parametric event-history model on a unique database of 324 new drug applications filed with the FDA and their intellectual property expiration dates, I test my theory. I replicate the empirical findings using an agent based simulation model and suggest two strategies that allow entrepreneurs to mitigate the liability of shrinking opportunity windows.