Critical drivers of founders for intention to internationalize: an empirical study

This study examines the founder-level drivers of startups’ intention to internationalize. Using a four-stage mixed-methods design—literature review, expert interviews, survey-based structural equation modeling (N = 105), and qualitative validation—we develop and refine a model grounded in the Theory of Planned Behavior. The final model identifies three significant predictors of internationalization intention: ambition and mindset, knowledge of the foreign market, and first-mover advantage, with “ambition and mindset” exerting the strongest influence. Conversely, foreign-market networks and partner support show limited relevance at the intention stage, suggesting their greater importance during the transition from intention to action. The findings advance founder-centric theorizing in early internationalization and offer actionable insights for policymakers, accelerators, and investors.