Industry Event Participation and Network Brokerage among Entrepreneurial Ventures
研究创业企业参与行业活动（如会议）如何影响企业家在非正式行业网络中的中介位置，以及这些位置如何进一步影响新企业绩效。基于开源软件行业45场活动和90家企业的数据，发现参与异质性活动或桥接不同活动能提升中介位置，且该效应受先前职业经验调节。
abstract Despite the recognition that network brokerage is beneficial for entrepreneurial ventures, little is known about its antecedents. This study examines how participation in industry events (e.g. conferences) relates to entrepreneurs' brokerage positions in informal industry networks and how these positions, in turn, impact new venture performance. Using a unique dataset of 45 events and subsequent network relations among entrepreneurs from 90 firms in the open source software industry, results indicate that: (1) entrepreneurs who participated in heterogeneous events or who bridged between events with few common participants were more likely to be brokers; (2) the relationship between event bridging and brokerage was stronger for entrepreneurs with broader prior career experiences; and (3) network brokerage mediated the event participation–performance link. It appears that events may limit structural opportunities for brokerage and that individual differences matter for exploiting these opportunities. Overall, this study increases understanding of how and when particular networking behaviours are beneficial for entrepreneurs.