Influence of family and peers on individual's decision to startup a new business venture

Much of the research into entrepreneurs’ intentions to startup a new business venture focuses upon the entrepreneurs’ personality traits or the external economic environment. These theories largely ignore socio-cultural factors like social relationships between the entrepreneur and others who influence him and his behavior. In order to fully understand entrepreneur's intention to startup a new business venture, it is necessary to understand his relationship with his family, peers (a person of the same age, status), friends, funders, advisers etc. The study found that, most of the time, entrepreneur's decision to startup a new business venture is not driven by his ability considerations, rather it is influenced by his parents or peers and their entrepreneurial experiences. If the person does not get proper support from their family or peers, they may not get into entrepreneurship or else fail in it.