The alchemy of student entrepreneurs: towards a model of entrepreneurial maturity

This paper establishes a seven-step theory of entrepreneurship centering on student as actual entrepreneur rather than building on a growing body of entrepreneurial intention research. Historically, a paucity of research fails to explore and discern differences between the student and archetypal entrepreneur (entrepreneur) owing to the popular narrative of entrepreneurs following the journey of college dropouts. From the perspective of this research, the student entrepreneurs are not students merely attending entrepreneurial classes but conduct either a business on/near campus or lead a campus enterprise (voluntary association) while simultaneously attending formal university award courses. The theory builds on depth interviews with students and entrepreneurs focusing on lived experiences as entrepreneurs. Interviews derive indicators and cues from case studies of entrepreneurs and foster elicitation of the cognitive skills and the unconscious drives of student entrepreneurs. Research findings guide implications for educators and managers inside and outside the classroom. Furthermore, the research contributes towards the development of a predictive instrument for the detection of would be student entrepreneurs following a departure from the traditional entrepreneur 'dropout' journey.