Recognizing International Opportunities by Born-digital Entrepreneurs: A Qualitative Approach

Abstract

This article conducts an in-depth investigation of International Opportunity Recognition in a Born Digital Start-up based on how entrepreneurs’ decisions drive the new firm’s internationalization behaviour and explores the role of digital capabilities possessed by the entrepreneurs. Accordingly, the aim of this research is to enhance our understanding of entrepreneurs’ digital capabilities and their decision-making logic regarding internationalization within a Born Digital Start-up using effectuation as a theoretical approach. A qualitative and interpretive method is used for this purpose in a single case setting. The primary data collection method was in-depth interviews conducted with two of the founders of the case company and two members of their management team. Moreover, an inductive analysis was applied. In doing so, this study offers novel and significant perspectives for the fields of Digital and International Entrepreneurship, as well as from the lens of effectuation theory.