A Social Constructivist Perspective on Entrepreneurial Learning in Business Incubators : A Case Study from Sweden

Abstract: The entrepreneurial learning process within business incubators, particularly among novice entrepreneurs in Sweden's entrepreneurial landscape, still needs to be explored. The present study, centered around the question, "Through a social constructivist perspective, how do novice entrepreneurs learn within business incubators in Sweden?", adopts a social constructivist perspective to fill this knowledge gap. Using a qualitative, inductive approach and the Critical Incident Technique (CIT), the study focuses on novice entrepreneurs at the Uppsala Innovation Centre (UIC), Sweden. Data collection involved semi-structured interviews and a two-step sampling method, while data analysis was grounded in Vygotsky’s Social Development Theory. This methodology aimed to unravel the intricacies of the entrepreneurial learning process within the UIC. These findings offer valuable insights to novice entrepreneurs and a particular business incubator, suggesting how they might structure more conducive incubator environments for effective entrepreneurial learning. It also underscores the importance of networking within the incubator's environment. However, these findings have certain limitations. They are based on data from a single Swedish incubator and may not be generalized across diverse entrepreneurial ecosystems. Moreover, the reliance on self-reported experiences introduces potential biases. Future research should address these limitations by incorporating multiple incubators across different countries and by introducing diverse perspectives and external assessments for more comprehensive and objective findings. The study concludes that providing a conducive social constructivist environment in business incubators is essential for fostering effective entrepreneurial learning, with emphasis on learning from networking with the more knowledgeable others (MKOs). These conclusions offer valuable directions for policy-makers, incubator managers, and novice entrepreneurs, aiming to enhance the sustainability and success of startups in dynamic entrepreneurial ecosystems.