Who’s Buying?: An Examination of the Drivers of Entrepreneurship Through Acquisition

Entrepreneurship through acquisition represents a viable path to entrepreneurship, yet little is known about the characteristics of the individuals attracted to these types of opportunities. Using a unique dataset of aspiring entrepreneurs, we find that aspiring entrepreneurs with more experience are more likely to proceed with an ETA opportunity while those with experience working in bureaucratic organizations are less likely to proceed with an ETA opportunity. Finally, aspiring entrepreneurs who have stronger implicit motivations of status and recognition are also more likely to proceed with an ETA opportunity. Implications of the findings are discussed and directions for future research are offered.