Given the argued importance of networks to new ventures, this paper is intended to fill a noted gap in the literature pertaining to the factors that influence the evolution of new ventures' alliance networks. Drawing on the imprinting literature, we propose that one has to look beyond the first partner per se, and instead focus on the extant relationships the initial partner has with other firms. More specifically, we argue and find that the network size and centrality of a new venture's initial alliance partner influence the subsequent size of the new venture's network.
NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication in Journal of Business Venturing. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in Journal of Business Venturing, VOL 24, ISSUE 1, 2009 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbusvent.2007.11.001.
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/stephanie_fernhaber/9/