Hybrid entrepreneurs’ self-efficacy and persistence change: A longitudinal exploration

Hybrid entrepreneurship—where an individual simultaneously engages in startup activities as well as wage-based employment—is an increasingly common career transition path. Yet, relatively little research has explored entrepreneurial characteristics during these unique career transitions. We provide exploratory insight into the longitudinal relationship between self-efficacy and persistence for hybrid entrepreneurs’ (N = 29) across a twenty-week period during which aspiring entrepreneurs engaged in activities related to venture startup while maintaining wage employment. As such, we propose that entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ESE) and entrepreneurial persistence are malleable concepts that change over time. Using our longitudinal sample, we find evidence that ESE predicts entrepreneurial persistence change over time. Perhaps more importantly, we model how changes in ESE over time affect changes in entrepreneurial persistence for hybrid entrepreneurs. In sum, our work provides a foundation from which future research can examine the longitudinal transition of nascent entrepreneurs moving from an occupational setting as an employee to launching their own venture.