Technology start-ups in tourism and hospitality: A networked social capital theory perspective from early-stage start-up founders

Abstract

Technology start-up entrepreneurship serves as the backbone of innovations within the tourism and hospitality industry. However, there is a lack of comprehensive research investigating the perspectives of founders who are the original innovators. Via social capital theory, this study aims to explore the entrepreneurial processes of founders during the critical early stages, determining the survival of technology start-ups. The research adopts a qualitative in-depth interviewing approach with seventeen early-stage tourism and hospitality start-up founders in Hong Kong and Thailand. By employing abductive thematic analysis, the study develops a novel conceptualization of the networked social capital, comprising four interconnected themes: team building, fundraising and resource acquisition, collaboration and partnerships, and credibility building. Also, the study highlights the evolving social dynamics among start-up ecosystem actors influenced by cutting-edge technologies. This study contributes to the tourism and hospitality literature and offers practical implications for start-up entrepreneurs, public policymakers, and tourism and hospitality firms.