The Overlooked Power of Peer Support in Entrepreneurship

Abstract The topic of social support has held a steady place in entrepreneurship over the years. While the literature addresses social support in various facets, peer-to-peer social support has yet to garner significant attention. This study evaluates entrepreneurial peer support and how it is measured. Specifically, both emotional and instrumental social support are examined to determine their influence on entrepreneurial outcomes. Small business owners are surveyed to validate the role of peer entrepreneurs in research. The results could revitalize a stream of entrepreneurial research that draws back to the value of personal connections, and point to new opportunities for research.