John-Erik Hassel recently completed his PhD in business administration at Karlstad Business School and The Service Research Center (CTF) and has done research on venture builders.
John-Erik Hassel, tell us about your research
– My research is about understanding a relatively new actor in entrepreneurial ecosystems called venture builders and how they can be understood in a larger context. Venture builders are actors who use a structured process to establish startups one after the other in collaboration with individual entrepreneurs.
– I have over 20 years of experience as an entrepreneur and have built several companies. Getting the chance to do research on entrepreneurship was something I had wanted to do for a long time. When the companies were sold, I had the time and opportunity to do it. I’m very passionate about entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship support.
Could you put your research into context?
– Entrepreneurship and entrepreneurship support are important themes that relate to economic development and innovation in our society. New ways of organising entrepreneurship and innovation emerge regularly, and it is important to understand these new actors to know how society can support new companies and new innovation in the best way.
In what way can your research be of use to society?
– My research indicates that venture builders structure the process of creating new companies in a way that allows individuals who do not typically choose to become entrepreneurs to participate in entrepreneurship. My thesis also shows the importance of understanding the type of companies produced by venture builders compared to other types of organisations that support entrepreneurship, so that society can use its resources efficiently.
In what way will your research strengthen Karlstad Business School?
– Entrepreneurship is an important part of the subject of business administration, and through my and others’ research in the area, our knowledge in the subject can be enhanced and benefit both students and other researchers.
