From Intent to Exit: A Longitudinal Study of a Creative Sector Graduate Nascent Entrepreneur/Expreneur

This paper investigates the business journey of a young graduate ‘nascent entrepreneur’ trying to start a creative sector business, including his eventual descent into ‘expreneurship’ – exiting [nascent] entrepreneurship. His story is mainly analysed by monitoring the shifts in his entrepreneurial intent over a four year period. Although scholars have explored factors affecting entrepreneurial intent in students/graduates (Kolvereid & Isaksen, 2006; Krueger et al., 2000; Luthje & Franke, 2003; Segal et al., 2005), little is known about how intent converts into business operation and outcomes. This paper makes a novel contribution to knowledge in that regard. A single case study is used in which longitudinal qualitative interview data is analysed using elements of the models of entrepreneurial intent in the literature. A proposed composite framework proved to be useful in understanding this case and will be tested on further graduates to provide insights into their strengths/weaknesses, and possible approaches to support interventions.