Which Entrepreneurs are Coachable and Why?

• DOI: 10.1257/aer.p20171010
• Publication Date: 2017-05-15T12:10:12Z
• Authors: Kevin A. Bryan; András Tilcsik; Brooklynn Zhu
• Keywords: Advice (programming); Incubator; USable

Is coachability a usable concept for startups? Using dataset on high-growth startups in prominent university incubator, we show that firm characteristics do predict which firms are likely to follow advice but these “coachable” not more achieve positive outcomes. The reason is may be rejected either because the stubborn and uncoachable, or possesses capabilities related hard outsiders observe.