The dynamics of emergent entrepreneurship: a retrospective analysis of properties and possibilities for inference by conceptual blending of competencies and opportunities.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Authors: Jakobsen, Henning Sejer1 (AUTHOR) sejer@bce.au.dk, Gertsen, Frank2 (AUTHOR) fgertsen@mp.aau.dk
Source: Journal of Innovation & Entrepreneurship. 6/19/2026, Vol. 15 Issue 1, p1-31. 31p.
Subject Terms: *Entrepreneurship, *Professional competence, *New business enterprises, *Business enterprises, *Business development, Cognitive ability, Possibility
Abstract: This study re-evaluates dominant entrepreneurship theories, arguing that founders' competencies often have a stronger influence on knowledge-based start-ups than market opportunities alone. Through an empirical examination of the start-up processes and growth patterns of 32 of Denmark's leading developing, manufacturing, marketing, and selling firms, we demonstrate that the emergence of these enterprises relies on founders' competencies blended with societal opportunities, and that sustained growth follows through subsequent integrations of competencies and opportunities as a second blend. The first blend with start-up is not crucial for progressivity but for learning, where the second blend of subsequent ones is crucial for creating the foundation, momentum, and survival. These findings contribute with an alternative perspective that blends a competency-focused approach with an opportunity-centric view for start-ups. This integrated perspective reveals how new characteristics and opportunities emerge through the dynamic interaction and interplay between various elements in the entrepreneur's environment and their personal competencies. In essence, this study aims to understand how the interplay between an entrepreneur's competencies and the opportunities they encounter leads to the emergence and evolution of new ventures. By analysing this process retrospectively, it seeks to uncover patterns and insights that could inform future entrepreneurial efforts and research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
Database: Entrepreneurial Studies Source
Full text is not displayed to guests.
FullText Links:
  – Type: pdflink
Text:
  Availability: 1
Header DbId: ent
DbLabel: Entrepreneurial Studies Source
An: 194722531
AccessLevel: 6
PubType: Academic Journal
PubTypeId: academicJournal
PreciseRelevancyScore: 0
IllustrationInfo
Items – Name: Author
  Label: Authors
  Group: Au
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Jakobsen%2C+Henning+Sejer%22">Jakobsen, Henning Sejer</searchLink><relatesTo>1</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> sejer@bce.au.dk</i><br /><searchLink fieldCode="AR" term="%22Gertsen%2C+Frank%22">Gertsen, Frank</searchLink><relatesTo>2</relatesTo> (AUTHOR)<i> fgertsen@mp.aau.dk</i>
– Name: TitleSource
  Label: Source
  Group: Src
  Data: <searchLink fieldCode="JN" term="%22Journal+of+Innovation+%26+Entrepreneurship%22">Journal of Innovation & Entrepreneurship</searchLink>. 6/19/2026, Vol. 15 Issue 1, p1-31. 31p.
– Name: Subject
  Label: Subject Terms
  Group: Su
  Data: *<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Entrepreneurship%22">Entrepreneurship</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Professional+competence%22">Professional competence</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22New+business+enterprises%22">New business enterprises</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Business+enterprises%22">Business enterprises</searchLink><br />*<searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Business+development%22">Business development</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Cognitive+ability%22">Cognitive ability</searchLink><br /><searchLink fieldCode="DE" term="%22Possibility%22">Possibility</searchLink>
– Name: Abstract
  Label: Abstract
  Group: Ab
  Data: This study re-evaluates dominant entrepreneurship theories, arguing that founders' competencies often have a stronger influence on knowledge-based start-ups than market opportunities alone. Through an empirical examination of the start-up processes and growth patterns of 32 of Denmark's leading developing, manufacturing, marketing, and selling firms, we demonstrate that the emergence of these enterprises relies on founders' competencies blended with societal opportunities, and that sustained growth follows through subsequent integrations of competencies and opportunities as a second blend. The first blend with start-up is not crucial for progressivity but for learning, where the second blend of subsequent ones is crucial for creating the foundation, momentum, and survival. These findings contribute with an alternative perspective that blends a competency-focused approach with an opportunity-centric view for start-ups. This integrated perspective reveals how new characteristics and opportunities emerge through the dynamic interaction and interplay between various elements in the entrepreneur's environment and their personal competencies. In essence, this study aims to understand how the interplay between an entrepreneur's competencies and the opportunities they encounter leads to the emergence and evolution of new ventures. By analysing this process retrospectively, it seeks to uncover patterns and insights that could inform future entrepreneurial efforts and research. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]
PLink https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&site=eds-live&db=ent&AN=194722531
RecordInfo BibRecord:
  BibEntity:
    Identifiers:
      – Type: doi
        Value: 10.1186/s13731-026-00652-7
    Languages:
      – Code: eng
        Text: English
    PhysicalDescription:
      Pagination:
        PageCount: 31
        StartPage: 1
    Subjects:
      – SubjectFull: Entrepreneurship
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Professional competence
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: New business enterprises
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Business enterprises
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Business development
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Cognitive ability
        Type: general
      – SubjectFull: Possibility
        Type: general
    Titles:
      – TitleFull: The dynamics of emergent entrepreneurship: a retrospective analysis of properties and possibilities for inference by conceptual blending of competencies and opportunities.
        Type: main
  BibRelationships:
    HasContributorRelationships:
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Jakobsen, Henning Sejer
      – PersonEntity:
          Name:
            NameFull: Gertsen, Frank
    IsPartOfRelationships:
      – BibEntity:
          Dates:
            – D: 19
              M: 06
              Text: 6/19/2026
              Type: published
              Y: 2026
          Identifiers:
            – Type: issn-print
              Value: 21925372
          Numbering:
            – Type: volume
              Value: 15
            – Type: issue
              Value: 1
          Titles:
            – TitleFull: Journal of Innovation & Entrepreneurship
              Type: main
ResultId 1